QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

VARIOUS  SCENES  AND  EVENTS 
IN  THE  LIFE  OF  HER  MAJESTY 


BY 


GLADYS  E.  LOCKE,  M.A. 


BOSTON 

SHERMAN,  FRENCH  %  COMPANY 
1913 


COPYRIGHT,    1913 

SHERMAN,  FRENCH  &  COMPANY 


"COMMENDACION"  TO  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Syns  theise  and  many  histories 

Ar  written  of  by  men 
Of  dyverse  kyndes  of  properties 

By  dyverse  women  then, 
I  praye  what  end  such  happ  shoulde  fall, 
I  knowe  oone  such  doth  pass  them  all 
That  ever  was,  or  ever  shall, 
And  they  were  all  alyve  agayne, 
I  praye  what  prayse  deserveyth  she 
If  in  our  Courte  her  highness  be? 
Well,  you  shall  know  no  more  of  me: 
God  save  her  life!     Amen. 

— By  a  contemporary. 
(In  Arber's  "An  English  Garner.") 


293123 


*  II 
N.  —  ''III 

—  I   IV 


V 
VI 

VII 
VIII 

IX 

X 

XI 

XII 

XIII 

XIV 


XV 

XVI 

'  XVII 

XVIII 

XIX 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

PERSONAL  DESCRIPTIONS  ....  1 
BIRTH  AND  EARLY  YEARS  ....  8 
THE  IMPRISONMENT  OF  THE  PRINCESS 

ELIZABETH  ........     23 

THE  FURTHER  IMPRISONMENT  OF  THE 

PRINCESS     ......      .      .      36 

THE  ACCESSION  OF  QUEEN  ELIZABETH  55 
THE  ROYAL  PROGRESS  ON  THE  DAY  BE- 

FORE THE  CORONATION     ....     63 

THE    CORONATION      ......     71 

THE  RECEPTION  TO  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

AT  CAMBRIDGE  UNIVERSITY  ...  76 
ANECDOTES  OF  THE  QUEEN  AND  HER 

COURTIERS  ........      84 

QUEEN  ELIZABETH  AT  OXFORD  .      .      .116 
QUEEN  ELIZABETH  AND  MARY  STUART     123 
HER   MAJESTY'S   SUITORS      ....    142 

MARRIAGE  NEGOTIATIONS  WITH  THE 

DUKE  OF  ALENCON    ......    166 

THE  CONDEMNATION  OF  THE  QUEEN  OF 

SCOTS     .........    194 

"  THE  INVINCIBLE  ARMADA  "...   215 
QUEEN  ELIZABETH  REVISITS  OXFORD    .   233 
THE  PRIVATE  LIFE  OF  THE  QUEEN  .      .   241 
THE  FALL  OF  ESSEX  ......   250 

"  THE  SETTING  OF  THE  WESTERN  LU- 

MINARY "      .  .   270 


I 

PERSONAL  DESCRIPTIONS 

INTRODUCTORY 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  of  majestic  and  graceful 
form,  a  little  above  the  medium  height,  "  neither 
too  high  nor  too  low,"  as  she  herself  naively  re- 
marked. She  had  hair  of  a  colour  between  pale 
auburn  and  yellow,  black  eyes,  which  were  "  beau- 
tiful and  lively,"  a  fair,  clear  complexion,  a  Roman 
nose,  a  small  mouth  with  thin,  firmly  set  lips,  and 
a  forehead  broad  and  high.  Her  face  was  striking 
and  commanding  rather  than  delicately  beautiful, 
the  countenance  of  one  born  to  rule.  She  pos- 
sessed many  personal  attractions  and  no  one  could 
be  more  charming  and  gracious  upon  occasion  than 
this  mighty  Princess  of  the  Royal  House  of  Tudor, 
with  that  slow,  sweet  smile  of  hers  and  her  quick, 
ever-ready  wit. 

Sir  Francis  Bacon  says,  "  She  was  tall  of 
stature,  of  comely  limbs,  and  excellent  feature  in 
her  countenance;  majesty  sat  under  veil  of  sweet- 
ness, and  her  health  was  sound  and  prosperous." 

There  were  a  great  many  portraits  painted  of 
her  both  as  Princess  and  as  Queen.  In  her  pic- 
tures, Elizabeth  was  fond  of  displaying  her  slen- 

1 


£  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

der,  delicate  hands,  of  which  she  was  very  proud. 
One  of  the  best  known  portraits  is  the  so-called 
"  Rainbow  Picture "  by  Zucchero.  In  this  her 
slim,  tapering  fingers  are  free  from  rings,  but  her 
costume  and  her  coiffure  are  most  elaborate.  Her 
tightly-curled  hair  is  bedecked  with  jewels  and 
surmounted  by  a  crown,  and  the  stiffly  starched 
ruff  is  conspicuous.  Indeed,  the  Queen's  one  ex- 
travagance consisted  in  a  lavish  manner  of  dress- 
ing. At  the  time  of  her  death  there  were  said  to 
be  three  thousand  gowns  in  her  wardrobe,  for  she 
disliked  to  part  with  any  of  them,  although  she 
had  worn  some  only  once  or  twice. 

Before  her  accession  to  the  throne,  however,  as 
her  position  was  uncertain  and  her  life  often  in 
danger,  she  assumed  a  manner  of  dressing,  plain 
and  simple  in  the  extreme,  as  seemed  fitting  to 
her  condition.  And,  in  early  life,  her  manner 
was  marked  by  a  demureness  that  gained  for  her 
the  title  of  "  my  sweetest  sister  Temperance " 
from  her  little  brother,  King  Edward  VI,  to  whom 
she  was  tenderly  attached.  Upon  becoming 
Queen,  she  allowed  her  taste  for  elaborate  costumes 
and  rich  jewels  full  play,  for  she  was  always  fond 
of  arousing  admiration  in  her  subjects,  and  of 
outshining  the  ladies  of. her  Court  in  splendour 
of  apparel.  No  one  before  or  since  has  excelled 
"  Good  Queen  Bess,"  as  she  was  affectionately 
called,  in  magnificence  of  attire  and  almost  fan- 
tastic display  of  jewels. 

But,  in  contrast  to  this  feminine  love  of  show, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  3 

Elizabeth  possessed  remarkable  mental  endow- 
ments. Devoted  from  her  earliest  years  to  study, 
and  particularly  to  history,  she  became  the  ablest 
and  greatest  woman  England  has  ever  had.  Her 
understanding  of  the  problems  of  European  poli- 
tics was  noteworthy.  In  the  Council  Chamber  she 
was  distinguished  for  sound  common  sense,  great 
shrewdness,  and  clear  insight.  Her  proficiency 
in  languages  was  extraordinary.  She  was  an  ex- 
cellent Latin  scholar  and  could  converse  in  that 
language  with  rare  facility,  and  was  able  to  de- 
liver speeches  in  it  ex  tempore,  fluently,  and  at 
great  length.  She  spoke  and  wrote  French, 
Italian,  Spanish  and  Flemish  with  the  same  ease 
as  her  native  English.  She  also  studied  Greek 
extensively,  and  could  converse  in  it.  She  learned 
very  readily,  and,  when  only  twelve  years  old, 
had  made  considerable  progress  in  the  sciences, 
geography,  mathematics  and  astronomy. 

"  She  was  of  admirable  beauty  and  well  deserv- 
ing a  Crown,  of  a  modest  gravity,  excellent  wit, 
royal  soul,  happy  memory,  and  indefatigably  given 
to  the  study  of  learning;  insomuch,  as  before  she 
was  seventeen  years  of  age,  she  understood  well 
the  Latin,  French  and  Italian  tongues  and  had 
an  indifferent  knowledge  of  Greek.  Neither  did 
she  neglect  music  so  far  as  became  a  Princess, 
being  able  to  sing  sweetly  and  play  handsomely 
on  the  lute,"  writes  Camden,  the  contemporary 
historian  of  her  reign. 

Elizabeth  was  always  fond  of  poetry  and  com- 


4  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

posed  some  sonnets  and  other  verses,  which  are 
altogether  worthy  of  mention.  In  addition,  she 
translated  some  poems  from  the  French,  and  Sal- 
lust's  "  De  Bello  Jugurthino "  from  the  Latin ; 
also  a  play  of  Euripides  and  two  orations  of  Isoc- 
rates  from  Greek  into  Latin.  Further,  she 
wrote  a  comment  on  Plato,  and  translated  a  dia- 
logue of  Xenophon  from  Greek  into  English.  In 
1593,  when  she  was  sixty  years  old,  Her  Majesty 
found  time,  in  the  midst  of  her  State  duties,  to 
translate  from  the  Latin  into  smooth  and  very 
elegant  English  the  five  books  of  Boethius'  "  Con- 
solations of  Philosophy,"  and  in  1598  the  greater 
part  of  Horace's  "  De  Arte  Poetica,"  and  a  little 
treatise  by  Plutarch,  called  "  De  Curiositate." 
Almost  the  whole  of  these  manuscripts  are  in  the 
Queen's  own  clear  and  beautiful  handwriting, 
which  was  so  admired  by  her  tutors.  Roger 
Ascham,  the  famous  classical  scholar,  first  tutor, 
and  later,  Latin  Secretary  to  Queen  Elizabeth, 
says  that  if  Her  Highness  had  had  the  leisure  to 
pursue  her  studies,  her  learning  would  have  been 
astounding.  He  considered  that  she  possessed 
extraordinary  abilities  for  acquiring  and  retain- 
ing knowledge. 

Sir  Richard  Baker  pays  this  eulogy  to  "  the 
heroine  of  the  British  throne  " :  "  The  beauty  of 
her  mind  was  most  admirable,  which  she  was  par- 
ticularly happy  in  expressing  both  by  speech  and 
writing.  If  a  collection  could  be  made  of  her 
apothegms  and  her  extemporal  orations,  it  would 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  5 

certainly  excel  anything  extant  on  that  head." 
Fuller  offers  an  interesting  description  of  the 
Maiden  Queen :  "  She  was  of  person  tall,  of  hair 
and  complexion  fair ;  well  favoured  but  high  nosed, 
of  limbs  and  features  neat,  of  a  stately  and  majestic 
deportment.  She  had  a  piercing  eye,  wherewith 
she  used  to  touch  what  metal  strangers  were  made 
of  that  came  into  her  presence.  But,  as  she 
counted  it  a  pleasant  conquest  with  her  majestic 
look  to  dash  strangers  out  of  countenance,  so 
was  she  merciful  in  pursuing  those  whom  she  over- 
came ;  and  would  comfort  them  with  her  smiles,  if 
perceiving  towardliness  and  an  ingenuous  modesty 
in  them.  She  much  affected  rich  and  costly  ap- 
parel, and,  if  ever  jewels  had  just  cause  to  be 
proud,  it  was  with  her  wearing  them." 

Speed  says :  "  Her  royal  actions  and  princely 
qualities  of  mind  were  seated  in  such  a  body  for 
state,  stature,  beauty  and  majesty,  as  best  be- 
fitted an  Empress." 

Speed  also  relates  how  Her  Majesty  in  1597, 
long  after  the  time  when  she  had  the  leisure  to  de- 
vote to  persistent  and  continued  study,  completely 
worsted  the  Polish  Ambassador  in  a  lengthy  Latin 
debate.  Says  our  chronicler,  "  Lion-like  rising,  she 
daunted  the  malapert  orator  no  less  with  her  stately 
port  and  majestic  departure  than  with  the  tartness 
of  her  princely  cheek;  and  turning  to  the  train 
of  her  attendants,  thus  said :  '  God's  death,  my 
Lords,  I  have  been  enforced  this  day  to  scour  up 
my  old  Latin  that  hath  long  lain  rusting.'  " 


6  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Thomas  Fuller  writes  further :  "  She  was  well 
skilled  in  the  Queen-craft,  and  by  her  policy  and 
prosperity  she  was  much  beloved  by  her  people; 
insomuch,  that  since  it  hath  been  said,  '  that  Queen 
Elizabeth  might  lawfully  do  that  which  King 
James  might  not.'  For,  although  the  laws  were 
equally  the  rule  to  them  both,  yet  her  popularity 
sugared  many  bitter  things,  her  subjects  thanking 
her  for  taking  those  taxes  which  they  refused 
to  pay  her  successor." 

The  carriage  of  the  "  Virgin  Queen "  was 
stately  and  dignified,  and  her  appearances  in 
public,  splendidly  attired,  and  accompanied  by 
the  Lords  and  Ladies  of  her  Court,  never  failed  to 
evoke  the  warmest  enthusiasm  from  her  loyal  sub- 
jects. To  her  people  she  was  always  affable,  and 
graciously  appreciative  of  the  pageants  prepared 
by  them  in  her  honour.  ^JVell  did  she  understand 
the  heart  of  the  English  people,  and  upon  their 
love  and  loyalty  rested  the  strength  of  her  throne 
which  was  not  to  be  shaken  by  civil  war  or  foreign 
invasion.  And  if  England's  Elizabeth  occasion- 
ally gave  way  to  outbursts  of  royal  wrath  which 
plainly  showed  her  to  be  the  daughter  of  Henry 
VIII,  to  her  subjects  at  large  she  invariably 
presented  only  the  greatest  and  best  in  her  na- 
ture, working  unceasingly  and  with  marked  suc- 
cess for  the  advancement  and  glory  of  her  coun- 
try. **"  She  was  the  living  embodiment  of  the  grow- 
ing greatness  of  England  and  was  both  beloved  and 
feared  by  her  subjects,  ruling  mightily,  but  wisely, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  7 

and  inspiring  in  her  people  fervent  patriotism 
and"  chivalrous  devotion  to  herself.  Her  courage, 
in  all  crises,  and  her  vigourous  will  were  alike  in- 
domitable; in  the  words  of  one  of  her  ministers, 
"  What  she  wills,  she  wills."  She  was,  moreover, 
a  daring  horsewoman,  an  excellent  shot,  a  graceful 
dancer,  and  a  great  lover  of  dramatic  entertain- 
ments and  gorgeous  pageants. 

Camden  pays  the  mighty  English  Queen  this 
further  tribute :  "  A  woman,  and,  if  that  be  not 
enough,  an  unmarried  virgin,  destitute  of  all  help 
of  parents,  brethren,  husband,  beset  with  divers 
nations,  her  mortal  enemies,  while  the  Pope 
fretted,  the  Spaniard  threatened;  and  all  her 
neighbour  Princes,  as  many  as  had  sworn  to 
Popery,  raged  round  about  her,  held  the  most 
stout  and  warlike  nation  of  the  English  four  and 
forty  years  and  upwards,  not  only  in  awe  and  duty, 
but  even  in  peace  also,  and,  which  is  most  of  all,  in 
the  true  Worship  of  God." 


n 

BIRTH    AND    EARLY   YEARS 

On  Sunday,  September  7,  1533,  between  three 
and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  the  Royal 
Palace  at  Greenwich,  was  born  the  future  illus- 
trious Queen  of  England,  the  daughter  of  Henry 
VIII,  and  Anne  Boleyn.  Bells  were  rung,  the  Te 
Deum  sung  in  the  churches,  and  great  prepara- 
tions made  for  the  christening  of  the  infant  Prin- 
cess. The  Duke  of  Norfolk  came  home  for  the 
ceremony,  which  took  place  on  the  following 
Wednesday. 

By  order  of  the  King,  the  Mayor  of  London, 
with  the  Aldermen,  forty  of  the  chief  citizens,  and 
a  throng  of  Lords  and  gentlemen,  came  up  the 
river  to  Greenwich  on  the  appointed  day. 

The  christening  was  to  take  place  at  two 
o'clock,  and,  at  precisely  one,  the  Mayor  and  his 
brethren,  clad  in  scarlet  robes,  stepped  into  their 
barges  and  were  quickly  rowed  to  Greenwich. 

The  King's  Palace  and  Grey  Friars'  Church, 
where  the  ceremony  was  to  be  performed,  were 
richly  hung  with  arras  and  cloth  of  gold.  The 
entire  road  from  the  Royal  dwelling  to  the  church 

was   strewn  with  green  reeds.     The  font  in  the 

8 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  9 

middle  of  the  church,  covered  with  costly  velvet, 
was  of  silver  and  three  steps  high.  Over  the  font 
hung  a  canopy  of  crimson  satin,  fringed  with  gold. 
At  two  o'clock,  the  infant  Princess,  the  uncon- 
scious cause  of  all  this  pomp  and  splendour  was 
borne  with  great  ceremony  from  the  Palace  to 
the  church.  At  the  head  of  the  long  procession 
marched  the  forty  citizens  of  London,  two  by  two, 
next  came  the  gentlemen  and  Chaplains,  the  Alder- 
men and  Mayor,  then  the  King's  Council,  the  King's 
Chaplains,  the  Barons,  Bishops  and  Earls.  The 
Earl  of  Essex  bore  the  covered  gilt  basins,  the 
Marquis  of  Exeter  a  taper  of  virgin  wax,  and  the 
Marquis  of  Dorset  carried  the  salt.  Lady  Mary 
of  Norfolk  bore  the  chrisom,  made  of  stone  set 
with  pearls.  After  her  proceeded  the  Dowager 
Duchess  of  Norfolk,  bearing  the  Royal  infant, 
wrapped  in  a  mantle  of  purple  velvet,  with  a  long 
train  furred  with  ermine.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
holding  the  Marshal's  rod,  walked  on  the  right 
side  of  the  Duchess,  while  the  Duke  of  Suffolk 
went  on  the  left.  The  Countess  of  Kent  carried 
the  long  train  of  the  baby  Princess,  while  between 
the  Countess  and  the  child  walked  the  Earl  of 
Wiltshire  and  the  Earl  of  Derby,  supporting  the 
train  on  the  left  and  right.  Four  other  Lords 
bore  a  canopy  of  crimson  velvet  over  the  Princess. 
In  this  order,  the  imposing  procession  reached 
the  church  door,  where  it  was  met  by  the  Bishop 
of  London  with  other  ecclesiastics,  all  in  gorgeous 
State-array,  and  the  sacrament  was  begun. 


10  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  performed 
the  ceremony,  was  also  god-father,  while  the  Dow- 
ager Duchess  of  Norfolk  and  the  Dowager 
Marchioness  of  Dorset  were  the  godmothers. 
The  Royal  infant  was  given  the  name  of  her  pa- 
ternal grandmother,  Elizabeth  of  York. 

After  the  child  had  been  carried  to  the  font 
and  solemnly  christened,  the  Garter-King-at- 
Arms  cried,  "  God  of  his  infinite  goodness  send  a 
prosperous  life  and  long  to  the  high  and  mighty 
Princess  of  England,  Elizabeth!" 

Then  the  trumpet  blew  loudly,  and  the  Princess 
was  brought  to  the  altar  and  confirmed;  after 
which,  the  Archbishop  presented  a  standing  cup 
of  gold,  as  his  gift  to  the  daughter  of  the  King. 
The  Duchess  of  Norfolk  gave  a  cup  of  gold, 
fretted  with  pearls,  and  the  Marchioness  of  Exeter 
gave  three  gilt  bowls. 

After  a  solemn  banquet,  the  procession  returned 
to  the  Court  in  the  same  order  as  before,  with  the 
addition  of  four  other  Nobles  who  followed  the 
Royal  Elizabeth,  bearing  the  costly  presents  that 
had  been  given  her.  The  splendid  retinue  ac- 
companied the  child  to  the  door  of  Queen  Anne's 
apartments,  where  the  King  met  it  and  gave  his 
thanks  for  the  honours  paid  his  youthful  daugh- 
ter. 

Shortly  after  this,  Henry,  acceding  to  the 
wishes  of  the  Queen,  had  an  Act  of  Parliament 
passed,  whereby  Elizabeth  was  solemnly  recog- 
nized as  the  heir  to  the  Throne,  and  the  title  of 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  11 

Princess  of  Wales  was  conferred  upon  her.* 
Thus  the  claims  of  the  Princess  Mary,  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  King  by  his  first  wife,  Katherine  of 
Aragon,  were  abruptly  set  aside. 

A  Royal  residence  was  then  provided  for  the 
little  Princess  and  her  attendants.  Soon  after, 
the  King  entered  into  negotiations  for  a  marriage 
between  her  and  the  Duke  of  Angouleme,  third 
son  of  the  French  Monarch.  But  Henry  added  so 
many  stipulations  to  the  marriage  treaty  that  the 
affair  came  to  naught. 

The  brilliant  career  of  the  young  Princess  of 
Wales,  which  had  opened  amid  such  pomp  and 
splendour,  was  rudely  checked,  before  she  was 
quite  three  years  old,  by  the  tragic  death  of  her 
mother. 

Rapid  as  had  been  Anne  Boleyn's  rise  from  the 
post  of  maid  of  honour  to  Katherine  of  Aragon 
to  the  exalted  position  of  Queen  of  England,  still 
more  rapid  was  her  disgrace  and  dreadful  fall 
from  the  lofty  pinnacle  to  which  she  had  been 
raised  by  the  hand  of  her  capricious  Lord,  the 
King.  She  was  accused  of  misconduct  and 
treason,  and,  after  a  judicial  farce,  hardly  worthy 
the  name  of  trial,  went  to  the  scaffold,  and,  protest- 
ing her  innocence  to  the  last,  died  with  queenly 
dignity. 

Henry's  resentment  against  the  unfortunate 
Anne  Boleyn  and  his  persistent  disbelief  in  her 

*  This  title  was  somewhat  irregular  and  could  only  be  pre- 
sumptive, as  Henry  still  hoped  for  a  son  by  Anne. 


12  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

innocence,  had  been  strengthened  by  his  passion 
for  Jane  Seymour,  one  of  Anne's  own  ladies-in- 
waiting,  whom  he  married  on  the  very  day  after 
the  execution.  The  King  had  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment passed  annulling  his  marriage  with  Anne, 
and  rendering  the  little  Elizabeth  illegitimate  and 
incapable  of  inheriting  the  Crown. 

When  a  son,  Edward,  was  born  later  to  the 
Royal  pair,  he  was  hailed  as  the  heir  to  the  Throne. 
The  Princess  Elizabeth,  then  four  years  old, 
borne  in  the  arms  of  the  Earl  of  Hertford,  car- 
ried the  chrisom  to  the  splendid  christening  which 
was  soon  followed  by  the  death  of  the  new  Queen. 

The  little  Princess  was  a  child  of  such  remarka- 
ble promise  and  such  pleasing  manners  that  her 
father  softened  toward  her,  and  allowed  her  to  be 
brought  up  with  the  young  scion  of  the  Royal 
House.  The  neglected  child  of  Anne  Boleyn,  far 
from  cherishing  feelings  of  envy  against  the  little 
usurper  of  her  royal  privileges,  conceived  a  very 
tender  affection  for  him,  which  he  heartily  re- 
turned. On  his  second  birthday  she  presented 
him  with  a  cambric  shirt,  worked  by  her  baby 
hands. 

Elizabeth  and  Edward  were  brought  up  in  the 
Protestant  faith,  while  the  elder  sister,  Mary, 
was  a  strict  Catholic,  as  her  mother  had  been. 
The  winning  manners  and  endearing  caresses  of 
the  little  Princess  caused  even  Mary,  who,  at  first, 
felt  bitter  jealousy  toward  the  child  of  her 
mother's  rival,  to  warm  toward  her. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  13 

The  tutors  of  Elizabeth  were  very  enthusiastic 
in  their  praises  of  her.  John  Aylmer,  her  first 
tutor,  said  that  he  learned  more  of  her  every  day 
than  she  of  him.  "  I  teach  her  words,"  he  writes, 
"  and  she  teacheth  me  things.  I  teach  her  tongues 
to  speak,  and  her  modesty  and  maidenly  life 
teacheth  me  words  to  do.  For  I  think  she  is 
the  best  inclined  and  disposed  of  any  in  all  Eu- 
rope." 

Her  Italian  teacher,  Ca^tigjione,  says :  "  I 
find  in  her  two  qualities  which  are  never  lightly 
yokefellows  in  one  woman;  which  are  a  singular 
wit  and  a  marvellous  meek  stomach." 

When  Elizabeth  and  Edward  were  separated  in 
154*6  by  the  removal  of  the  former  to  Enfield  and 
the  latter  to  Hertford,  the  young  Prince  was  so 
grieved  that  she  wrote  to  him,  begging  him  to  be 
comforted  and  to  keep  up  a  correspondence  with 
her. 

Sir  Robert  Naunton,  speaking  later  of  the  af- 
fection between  the  two  younger  children  of  Henry 
VIII  writes :  "  Besides  the  consideration  of  blood, 
there  was  between  these  two  Princes,  a  concurrency 
and  a  sympathy  in  their  natures  and  affections, 
together  with  the  celestial  bond,  conformity  in  re- 
ligion, which  made  them  one  and  friends,  for  the 
King  called  her  his  sweetest  and  dearest  sister,  and 
was  scarce  his  own  man,  she  being  absent,  which 
was  not  so  between  him  and  the  Lady  Mary." 

It  is  said  that  Queen  Elizabeth  throughout  her 
life,  whenever  she  tried  a  new  pen,  customarily 


14  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

V      wrote    the    name    of    Edward,    her    dearly    loved 
brother. 

The  young  Princess  found  such  favour  in  the 
eyes  of  Anne  of  Cleves,  her  father's  fourth  wife, 
that  Anne  declared  "sh~£  should  esteem  it  a  greater 
happiness  to  be  mother  of  Elizabeth  than  Queen 
of  England."  After  Henry  and  this  new  ,wife 
had  been  divorced  by  mutual  agreement,  the  King 
granted  Anne's  request,  seconded  by  the  pleading 
of  his  daughter,  that  the  Princess  should  visit  her 
frequently. 

Elizabeth  was  treated  with  equal  affection  and 
consideration  by  her  next  step-mother,  Katherine 
Howard,  own  cousin  to  Anne  Boleyn.  At  all  the 
banquets  and  fetes  in  honour  of  her  marriage, 
Katherine  insisted  that  Elizabeth  be  seated  by  her 
side  and  called  her  "  cousin."  It  was  also  her  in- 
tention to  ask  the  King  to  have  that  Act  of  Par- 
liament repealed,  which  had  rendered  the  Princess 
incapable  of  inheriting  the  Crown.  Elizabeth, 
however,  while  she  manifested  a  loving  regard  for 
her  partial  young  step-mother,  spent  as  much  time 
as  her  father  would  allow,  with  Anne  of  Cleves, 
for  whom  she  always  showed  a  deep  and  sincere 
affection.  Indeed,  she  ever  remained  constantly 
faithful  throughout  her  life  to  the  friends  of  her 
youth,  aiding  and  advancing  them  to  the  best  of 
her  power  and  their  own  abilities. 

After  the  disgrace  and  execution  of  Katherine 
Howard,  the  Princess  Elizabeth  lived  for  a  time 
with  her  sister,  Mary,  at  Havering  Bower. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  15 

On  the  marriage  of  King  Henry  to  Katherine 
Parr,  a  woman  of  strong  character  and  rare 
scholarship,  Elizabeth  and  Mary  took  their  proper 
places  in  the  Royal  household.  The  younger  Prin- 
cess was  ten  years  old  at  this  time.  The  new 
Queen  showed  a  motherly  interest  in  both  her  step- 
daughters, but  particularly  in  the  little  Eliza- 
beth, whose  studies  she  personally  directed  and 
encouraged. 

It  was  upon  history  that  the  young  Princess 
bent  her  thoughts  in  particular,  and  spent  three 
hours  of  each  day  in  the  pursuit  of  this  study, 
in  which  she  began  to  interest  herself  when  only 
five  years  old. 

She  read  works  on  this  subject  in  all  languages, 
and  used  to  give  especial  attention  to  the  lives  of 
the  rulers.  She  was  studying  to  be  a  worthy 
Queen,  for,  from  her  earliest  youth,  the  glittering 
vision  of  the  Crown  shone  before  her  eyes,  to  at- 
tain which  was  the  aim  and  object  of  her  life. 
And  those  who  were  brought  in  personal  contact 
with  her  said  that  Heaven  in  endowing  her  with 
such  remarkable  gifts  certainly  destined  her  for 
some  high  office. 

During  the  last  illness  of  the  King,  Elizabeth 
and  Edward  again  resided  together  and  their  af- 
fection for  each  other  grew  even  stronger.  When 
their  father's  death  was  announced  to  them,  they 
burst  into  such  passionate  tears  that  all  those 
present  were  deeply  moved,  and  Heywood  writes, 
"  Never  was  sorrow  more  sweetly  set  forth,  their 


16  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

faces  seeming  rather  to  beautify  their  sorrow  than 
their  sorrow  to  cloud  the  beauty  of  their  faces." 

By  the  conditions  of  Henry's  will,  sanctioned 
by  Parliament,  the  Crown  was  to  pass  to  Edward, 
then  to  Mary,  if  he  died  without  heirs,  and,  in 
default  of  heirs  to  Mary,  to  Elizabeth,  and  from 
her  to  the  children  of  their  father's  younger  sister, 
Mary,  Duchess  of  Suffolk.  Lady  Jane  Grey  was 
the  oldest  of  these  children.  And  so,  by  the  tardy 
justice  of  her  father,  the  daughter  of  Anne  Boleyn 
was  restored  to  her  proper  rank  as  Royal  Prin- 
cess and  reversionary  heiress  to  the  Throne.  She 
was  given  an  income  of  three  thousand  pounds  a 
year  and  a  marriage  portion  of  ten  thousand 
pounds,  provided  her  marriage  was  approved  by 
King  Edward  and  his  Council,  otherwise  she  would 
lose  her  dowry. 

The  ambitious  Lord  Admiral  Seymour,  brother 
to  the  Protector  Somerset  and  uncle  to  the  young 
King,  made  a  daring,  but  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
unite  himself  in  marriage  to  the  fourteen  year 
old  Princess  Elizabeth,  exactly  a  month  after  the 
death  of  Henry  VIII. 

Upon  Her  Highness'  refusal  Seymour  promptly 
married  his  former  fiancee,  Katherine  Parr,  the 
Queen  Dowager,  who  had  been  appointed  the 
guardian  of  Elizabeth  and  with  whom  the  Princess 
was  then  living. 

Mary  and  Elizabeth  were  both  displeased  at 
their  step-mother's  hasty  marriage,  which  seemed 
derogatory  to  their  father's  memory,  but  Eliza- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  17 

beth  continued  for  a  year,  at  least,  to  reside  with 
Katherine  Parr.  Here  she  was  treated  with  the 
royal  dignity  befitting  the  sister  of  the  King  and 
was  attended  by  a  retinue  of  ladies  and  officers  of 
State. 

Seymour,  a  man  of  unprincipled  character  and 
boundless  ambition,  now  attempted  to  obtain  a 
hold  upon  his  wife's  young  Royal  ward  by  indecor- 
ous romping  and  undue  familiarity.  Katherine 
prevented  any  mischief  arising  from  these  evil 
designs,  fostered  by  ambition,  by  insisting  that 
the  young  Princess  and  her  establishment  remove 
from  the  house.  Elizabeth  then  lived  chiefly  at 
Hatfield  and  Ashbridge. 

Katherine  Parr,  however,  remained  her  faithful 
friend  and  guide  until  her  death,  writing  to  her 
frequently  in  a  friendly  and  affectionate  manner. 
In  her  will  she  left  her  half  her  jewels  and  a 
heavy  chain  of  gold,  admonishing  her  to  cultivate 
the  great  qualities  bestowed  on  her  by  God  and 
strive  to  improve  them,  for  she  believed  she  was 
destined  by  Heaven  to  be  Queen  of  England. 

After  the  death  of  Katherine,  Seymour  again 
paid  his  addresses  to  Princess  Elizabeth.  These 
advances  were  seconded  by  Mrs.  Katherine  Ashley, 
Her  Highness'  governess,  and  by  other  officials  of 
her  household,  who  favoured  the  Lord  Admiral 
for  their  own  interests.  These  intriguing  persons 
were  constantly  praising  Seymour  to  their  fifteen 
year  old  mistress,  who  had  no  disinterested  woman 
friend  or  relation  to  advise  her  at  that  critical 


18  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

period.  Seymour,  although  twenty  years  her 
senior,  was  a  handsome  man  of  engaging  manners, 
and  the  youthful  Princess,  while  she  did  not  see  or 
directly  correspond  with  him  after  the  death  of 
Queen  Katherine,  received  his  messages  and 
dropped  some  encouraging  remarks  regarding  him. 
One  of  Elizabeth's  ladies,  however,  so  constantly 
and  persistently  importuned  her  to  marry  the 
Admiral  that  the  Princess,  after  a  vain  attempt 
to  silence  her,  threatened  "  to  have  her  thrust  out 
of  her  presence  if  she  did  not  desist." 

Seymour's  bold  project  of  marrying  the  King's 
youngest  sister  and  his  daring  intrigues  to  over- 
throw the  Regency  and  get  the  power  into  his 
own  hands,  brought  him  to  the  scaffold  in  March, 
154$.  The  principal  people  in  the  household  of 
the  Princess  were  arrested  and  strictly  examined 
by  the  Council  to  see  how  far  they  and  their  Mis- 
tress were  involved  in  the  schemes  of  Seymour. 
For  a  time,  Elizabeth  was  treated  as  a  prisoner 
of  State  and  detained  at  Hatfield,  under  the  charge 
of  Sir  Robert  Tyrwhit.  When  the  execution  of 
the  Admiral  was  reported  to  the  Princess  by  spies 
of  the  Council,  who  were  eager  to  see  if  she  would 
betray  any  emotion,  she  said,  calmly,  "  This  day 
died  a  man  with  much  wit  and  very  little  judg- 
ment." 

For  a  year  or  more  after  this,  Princess  Eliza- 
beth was  in  high  disfavour  with  the  Council  who 
succeeded,  to  a  certain  extent,  in  alienating  from 
her  the  affections  of  the  young  King. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  19 

Her  Highness,  during  her  enforced  retirement, 

i  devoted  herself  to   her  studies,   and  particularly 

/  to  the  classics  and  theology,  under  the  guidance 

1  of  Rgger  Ascham,  who  enthusiastically   sounded 

the  praises  of  his  Royal  pupil  to  John  Sturmius, 

Rector  of  the  Protestant  Academy  at  Strasburg. 

"  Numberless  honourable  ladies  of  the  present 
time,"  writes  Ascham,  "  surpass  the  daughters  of 
Sir  Thomas  More  in  every  kind  of  learning;  but, 
among  them  all,  my  illustrious  Mistress,  the  Lady 
Elizabeth,  shines  like  a  star,  excelling  them  more 
by  the  splendour  of  her  virtues  and  learning  than 
by  the  glory  of  her  Royal  birth.  She  has  accom- 
plished her  sixteenth  year  and  with  so  much  solid- 
ity of  understanding,  such  courtesy  united  with 
dignity,  that  the  like  has  never  been  observed  at 
so  early  an  age.  She  has  the  most  ardent  love 
of  true  religion  and  of  the  best  kind  of  literature. 
The  constitution  of  her  mind  is  exempt  from  female 
weakness  and  she  is  endued  with  a  masculine  power 
of  application.  No  apprehension  can  be  quicker 
than  hers,  no  memory  more  retentive.  French 
and  Italian  she  speaks  like  English,  Latin  with 
fluency,  propriety  and  judgment;  she  also  speaks 
Greek  with  me  frequently,  willingly  and  moderately 
well.  Nothing  can  be  more  elegant  than  her  hand- 
writing, whether  in  Greek  or  Roman  characters. 
In  music  she  is  very  skilful,  but  does  not  greatly 
delight." 

Although  the  commendation  of  this  famous 
scholar  helped  to  restore  the  Princess  to  her 


\ 


20  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

brother's  favour,  he,  at  last,  through  the  baleful 
influence  of  the  powerful  Duke  of  Northumber- 
land, who  had  succeeded  Somerset  as  Protector, 
became  no  less  estranged  from  her  whom  he  was 
wont  to  call  "  his  sweetest  Lisbeth  "  than  from  the 
Lady  Mary.  On  his  death-bed,  the  boy-king  was 
induced  by  Northumberland  to  set  aside  his 
father's  will  and  to  bequeath  the  Crown  to  his 
young  cousin,  Lady  Jane  Grey,  the  daughter-in- 
law  of  the  wily  Duke. 

Mary,  however,  was  not  the  woman  to  yield 
without  a  struggle,  and  when,  upon  the  death  of 
Edward,  Jane  was  proclaimed  Queen,  she  mar- 
shalled her  forces  and  promptly  advanced  to  seize 
the  Crown  that  was  rightfully  hers.  The  defence- 
less position  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth  and  her 
nearness  to  London  placed  her  in  great  danger, 
and  it  was  only  by  displaying  extreme  prudence 
and  caution  that  she  escaped  being  dragged  to 
the  Tower  by  Northumberland's  party.  She 
pleaded  a  fit  of  illness,  real  or  assumed,  as  an 
excuse  for  not  joining  in  the  hot  struggle  for 
the  Crown,  and  thereby  showed  her  sound  good 
sense.  She  really  took  sides,  however,  with  her 
sister  Mary  and  gave  her  what  aid  she  could.  As 
Mary  advanced  toward  the  Capitol,  one  thousand 
horsemen  rode  to  the  Princess  Elizabeth  and  placed 
themselves  under  her  command.  Thereupon  she 
speedily  forgot  her  illness,  and  putting  herself 
at  the  head  of  the  formidable  array,  ordered  them 
to  proceed  and  join  forces  with  Mary. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  21 

At  Wanstead  the  Royal  sisters  met,  and  Mary 
was  very  gracious  toward  every  lady  presented 
by  Elizabeth. 

On  Queen  Mary's  triumphal  entry  into  London, 
the  sisters  rode  side  by  side  in  the  splendid  caval- 
cade. The  beauty  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth,  then 
in  the  fresh  bloom  of  twenty,  and  the  grace  of 
her  tall,  majestic  figure,  made  Mary,  who  was  al- 
most double  her  age,  short,  thin,  and  worn  by  sick- 
ness appear  at  great  disadvantage. 

Less  than  a  month  after  the  Queen's  accession, 
the  seeds  of  discord  were  sown  between  Mary  and 
the  Princess.  The  trouble  was  mainly  on  the 
I  ground  of  religion.  Elizabeth  persistently  re- 
fused to  attend  Mass,  even  when  ordered  to  do  so 
by  Mary  and  her  Council.  The  Protestants,  ad- 
miring her  courage  and  firmness,  placed  all  their 
hopes  in  her,  as  the  leader  of  their  party ;  while 
the  Queen  regarded  her  as  the  greatest  obstacle 
in  restoring  the  Papacy  in  England.  She  tried 
in  vain  alternate  threats  and  entreaties  to  force  the 
Princess  to  attend  Mass.  Then,  writes  the  French 
Ambassador,  De  Noailles,  "  the  Queen  caused  her 
to  be  preached  to  and  entreated  by  all  the  great 
men  of  the  Council,  one  after  the  other,  but  their 
importunity  only  elicited  from  her,  at  last,  a  very 
rude  reply." 

But,  at  length,  the  Princess  Elizabeth  realized 
that  she  must  make,  at  least,  a  show  of  tempor- 
izing, if  she  was  to  be  recognized  as  the  heiress 
presumptive  to  the  Throne.  With  this  end  in  view, 


22  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

she  attended,  but  with  visible  signs  of  distaste,  the 
celebration  of  the  birth  of  the  Virgin.  By  this 
and  similar  means,  she  succeeded  in  being  formally 
recognized  as  reversionary  heiress  to  the  Crown. 

Mary,  however,  had,  at  the  meeting  of  her  first 
Parliament,  declared  the  validity  of  her  mother's 
marriage,  and,  although  she  did  not  attempt  to 
alter  the  conditions  of  her  father's  will  in  respect 
to  the  reversionary  claims  of  the  Princess  Eliza- 
beth, she  allowed  the  Duchess  of  Suffolk  and  her 
children  to  take  precedence  over  her.  This  tacit 
slur  on  her  birth,  together  with  further  indignities, 
so  displeased  the  Princess  that  she  refused  to  at- 
tend Mass  again  and  shut  herself  up  in  her  cham- 
ber. She  was  now  looked  upon  with  such  suspi- 
cion that  her  every  movement  was  watched  by  spies 
of  the  Council. 

Elizabeth  was  in  a  position  of  extreme  danger. 
Renaud,  the  intriguing  Spanish  Ambassador,  and 
De  Noailles,  the  equally  infamous  delegate  of  the 
French  Court,  were  weaving  their  insidious  plots 
about  her  and  the  Catholic  clergy  were  bitter  foes 
to  the  daughter  of  Anne  Boleyn,  whom  they  re- 
garded as  the  fountain  head  of  Protestantism. 
The  Princess  found  it  necessary  to  employ  all  the 
prudence  and  discreetness  with  which  Nature  had 
endowed  her;  a  single  false  step  would  have  cost 
her  her  life. 


Ill 

THE  IMPRISONMENT  OF  THE  PRINCESS 
ELIZABETH 

As  a  result  of  the  machinations  of  Gardiner, 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  his  emissaries,  who 
constantly  strove  to  stir  up  discord  between  the 
Catholic  Queen  and  the  Protestant  Princess,  the 
presumptive  heiress  to  the  Throne,  Elizabeth,  to- 
gether with  Edward  Courtney,  Earl  of  Devonshire, 
were  accused  of  complicity  in  the  rebellion  of  Sir 
Thomas  Wyatt.  This  Kentish  rebel,  who  aimed 
at  the  overthrow  of  Mary  and  her  party,  when 
arrested,  basely  accused  Elizabeth  and  Courtney 
of  being  instigators  of  the  revolt.  The  plot  was 
in  reality  hatched  by  the  French  Ambassador,  De 
Noailles,  who  dreaded  the  ascendancy  the  Spanish 
party  was  gaining  in  England  through  the  ap- 
proaching nuptials  of  the  Queen  with  Don  Philip. 
He  also  desired  to  destroy  the  heiress  to  the  Throne 
and  bring  about  the  succession  of  Mary,  Queen  of 
Scots,  the  grandchild  of  the  elder  sister  of  Henry 
VIII.  and  the  daughter-in-law-  of  the  French  King. 
So  he  gave  aid  to  the  revolt  of  the  Protestant 
party,  whose  plans  were  to  marry  the  weak,  but 
ambitious  Courtney  to  Elizabeth  and  seat  them 


24  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

jointly  on  the  Throne.  The  proposed  bridegroom 
was  of  the  Blood  Royal,  being  grandson  to  Kath- 
erine,  daughter  of  Edward  IV.  His  father,  the 
Marquis  of  Exeter,  was  beheaded  toward  the  close 
of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII,  and  the  son,  though 
a  mere  child  at  the  time,  had  remained  a  close 
prisoner  in  the  Tower. 

Mary,  at  her  accession,  released  him,  and  was 
so  pleased  with  his  handsome  face  and  courtly 
manners  that  she  created  him  Earl  of  Devonshire, 
and  had  some  idea  of  marrying  him.  But  Court- 
ney, while  aspiring  to  the  hand  of  the  Queen,  was 
indiscreet  enough  to  allow  his  admiration  for  the 
superior  charms  and  lively  wit  of  the  Princess 
Elizabeth  to  become  known.  Her  Highness  was 
inclined  to  favour  his  advances  and  fan  his  pas- 
sion, for  she  always  liked  to  keep  handsome  young 
men  dangling  about  her.  There  is  no  reason  to 
suppose  that  her  feelings  for  him  were  deeper  than 
those  of  a  young  woman,  a  coquette  by  nature, 
who  was  flattered  by  the  attentions  of  one  hon- 
oured with  the  regard  of  a  Queen.  This  affair, 
however,  was  made  much  of  by  her  enemies,  and 
soon  Mary  showed  a  decided  coolness  and  next 
active  hostility  against  Courtney.  She  then  affi- 
anced herself  to  Philip  of  Spain. 

At  the  instigation  of  the  conspirators,  secretly 
backed  by  the  treacherous  De  Noailles,  Courtney 
entered  into  an  engagement  of  marriage  with  Eliz- 
abeth. He  was  probably  well  satisfied  with  the 
change  of  brides,  so  long  as  the  Crown  too  was 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  25 

included  in  the  compact.  The  Princess,  however, 
refused  (fb^openly  fleclare  her  views,  and,  display-  i*  • 
ing  her  usual  caution,  remained  wholly  passive. 
This  prudent  conduct  so  exasperated  De  Noailles 
that  he  actually  formed  a  plot  to  carry  Elizabeth 
away  by  force,  marry  her  to  the  Earl,  and  then 
convey  them  to  Devonshire,  where  were  powerful 
friends  of  Courtney. 

Her  Highness,  aware  of  the  peril  she  was  in, 
finally  obtained  leave  to  retire  to  her  estate  at 
Ashbridge.  Courtney,  soon  after,  treacherously 
betrayed  his  fellow-conspirators  to  Gardiner,  which 
precipitated  the  revolt  of  Wyatt.  This  insur- 
rection was  promptly  quelled  with  great  severity 
and  its  leader  captured,  who,  as  has  been  said, 
accused  the  unhappy  Princess  and  her  weak- 
minded  lover  of  being  the  exciters  of  the  bloody 
rebellion. 

Courtney  was  at  once  taken  into  custody  and 
Elizabeth  was  commanded  to  return  to  Court.  She 
pleaded  illness  as  her  excuse  for  not  obeying  this 
dangerous  summons.  Then  the  Queen,  believing 
she  had  every  cause  to  distrust  her  loyalty,  sent 
Lord  Howard,  Sir  Edward  Hastings,  and  Sir 
Thomas  Cromwell  with  a  troop  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  horsemen  to  Ashbridge  to  bring  the 
Princess  to  London  by  force.  With  this  formida- 
ble array,  went  two  of  the  Court  physicians  to 
see  if  Her  Highness  was  really  ill  or  only  feigning, 
for  Elizabeth  had  a  way  of  taking  to  her  bed  in 
order  to  avoid  unpleasant  interviews. 


26  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

The  party  arrived  at  Ashbridge  at  ten  o'clock 
and  peremptorily  demanded  to  see  the  Princess. 
She  sent  word  that  she  was  sick  and  in  bed,  and 
requested  them  to  wait  until  the  next  morning. 
But  the  Lords  sent  back  a  rough  reply  that  they 
must  see  her  at  once,  no  matter  in  what  state 
she  was.  Before  the  attendant  could  deliver  this 
uncivil  message,  they  forced  their  way  into  the 
chamber  where  Elizabeth  lay  in  bed,  really  sick. 

The  Princess,  greatly  amazed  and  somewhat 
alarmed  at  their  unceremonious  and  rude  entrance, 
demanded  why  they  came  in  such  haste  at  so  un- 
timely an  hour.  They  told  her  it  was  the  Queen's 
pleasure  that  she  be  at  once  conveyed  to  London. 
She  answered  that  she  would  be  glad  to  obey  Her 
Majesty,  were  she  not  unable  to  do  so  on  account 
of  her  illness. 

But  the  Lords  replied  that  they  had  instructions 
to  bring  her,  alive  or  dead.  Then  the  Princess 
said  sorrowfully,  fearing  that  there  must  be  some 
dreadful  import  to  this  decisive  summons,  "  Your 
commission  is  very  sore,  my  Lords." 

The  two  physicians  were  next  called  in,  and 
upon  testifying  that  she  could  travel  without  dan- 
ger to  life,  the  Nobles  told  her  that  the  Queen's 
litter  would  be  ready  for  her  at  nine  o'clock  on 
the  morrow. 

On  the  next  day,  precisely  at  the  appointed 
time,  Her  Highness,  weak  and  suffering  in  body 
and  mind,  was  forced  to  enter  the  litter,  although 
she  almost  fainted  several  times  on  the  way  from 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  27 

her  chamber.  This  day  was  the  one  fixed  for  the 
j  execution  of  Lady  Jane  Grey,  her  own  cousin. 
The  knowledge  of  this  fact  lent  a  frightful  signifi- 
cance to  this  abrupt  command  to  return  to  Lon- 
don. Her  attendants  stood  about  weeping  and 
heavy-hearted,  for,  like  their  unhappy  Mistress, 
they  feared  that  the  scaffold  would  be  the  end  of 
this  forced  journey. 

The  Princess  managed  to  preserve  an  outward 
calm,  although  her  pale,  wan  face  testified  to  her 
sufferings.  On  the  journey,  which  occupied  four 
days,  the  litter  was  surrounded  and  followed  by  a 
multitude  of  people,  who  loudly  proclaimed  their 
devotion  to  her  and  lamented  her  captivity. 

Upon  reaching  the  Court,  she  was  immediately 
confined  in  her,  own  apartments  and  kept  a  close 
prisoner  for  two  weeks,  seeing  neither  the  Queen 
nor  any  friend  save  the  few  attendants  she  was 
still  allowed  to  keep  about  her.  To  add  to  the 
terrible  suspense  she  was  in,  Mary  refused  to  hold 
even  a  written  communication  with  her. 

On  March  16th,  about  three  weeks  after  the 
arrival  of  the  Princess  at  London,  Gardiner,  to- 
gether with  nineteen  members  of  the  Council,  came 
to  her  and  accused  her  of  conspiring  with  Wyatt. 
But  she  fearlessly  declared  her  entire  innocence, 
saying,  "  I  am  altogether  guiltless  therein."  A 
further  charge  was  brought  against  her,  at  the 
same  time,  of  being  concerned  in  the  rebellion  of 
Sir  Peter  Carewe  in  the  West.  This,  too,  she 
emphatically  denied.  After  a  lengthy  and  relent- 


28  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

less  examination,  the  Councillors,  seeing  that  it  was 
impossible  to  coerce  or  terrify  her  into  incrim- 
inating herself,  informed  her  that  she  must  prepare 
to  go  to  the  Tower. 

Elizabeth,  aghast  at  the  mention  of  this  dismal 
prison,  answered  that  "  she  trusted  the  Queen's 
Majesty  would  be  a  more  gracious  lady  to  her; 
and  that  Her  Highness  would  not  otherwise  con- 
ceive of  her  but  that  she  was  a  true  and  loyal 
woman."  She  went  on  to  say  that  "  she  was  in- 
nocent in  all  those  matters  wherein  they  had 
burdened  her  and  desired  them  to  speak  in  her 
favour  to  the  Queen,  saying  she  would  ask  no 
mercy,  if  she  should  be  proved  guilty." 

But  her  inquisitors  answered  that  it  was  the 
Queen's  commands  that  she  go  to  the  Tower,  and 
there  was  no  help  for  it.  They  then  departed 
with  their  caps  over  their  eyes.  This  was  done  as 
a  sign  of  disrespect. 

Directly  after  this,  all  her  own  attendants  were 
removed,  and  three  grooms  and  three  waiting- 
women  in  the  service  of  Queen  Mary  were  put  in 
their  places. 

The  next  night,  the  Marquis  of  Winchester  and 
the  Earl  of  Sussex  informed  the  Princess  that  the 
barge  was  ready  and  the  tide  suitable  for  conveying 
her  to  the  Tower.  But  she,  wishing  to  defer  this 
dreaded  journey,  begged  them  to  wait  until  the 
next  tide,  as  this  would  be  in  the  day  time. 

Winchester  harshly  answered :     "  Neither  time 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  29 

nor  tide  is  to  be  delayed."  He  also  refused  her 
request  to  be  allowed  to  write  to  the  Queen. 

But  Sussex,  who  was  of  a  more  kindly  nature, 
not  only  gave  permission,  but  promised  on  his 
honour  to  deliver  the  letter  himself. 

So  Elizabeth  wrote  a  lengthy  epistle,  taking 
care  not  to  bring  it  to  a  close  until  the  tide  had 
changed,  in  this  way  making  it  imperative  that 
the  journey  be  put  off  until  the  next  day.  In  this 
letter,  she  protested  her  entire  innocence,  declar- 
ing that  she  would  be  ready  to  die  a  shameful 
death  if  she  were  really  a  traitor.  She  ended  with 
an  earnest  entreaty  for  a  personal  interview  be- 
fore going  to  the  Tower.  She  signed  herself 
"  Your  Highness'  most  faithful  subject  that  hath 
been  from  the  beginning  and  will  be  to  my  end." 

At  nine  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  the  Princess 
was  forced  to  depart,  although  she  had  received 
no  answer  whatever  to  her  letter.  As  she  stepped 
into  the  barge,  she  said  "  she  marveled  much  what 
the  Nobility  of  the  realm  meant  by  suffering  her, 
a  Princess,  to  be  led  forth  into  captivity,  the 
Lord  knew  whither,  for  she  did  not." 

The  Nobles  in  their  haste  to  land  the  prisoner  at 
the  Tower,  without  attracting  the  attention  of  the 
people,  whose  idol  Elizabeth  was,  arrived  too  early, 
and  found  that  the  tide  was  not  high  enough  to 
allow  the  barge  to  shoot  the  bridge,  where  the  fall 
of  water  was  very  great.  For  an  hour,  the  boat 
hovered  around  the  shore,  until  the  Lords,  growing 


30  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

impatient  and  fearing  that  among  those  who  were 
already  gathering  on  the  banks,  there  might  be 
some  friends  who  would  try  to  rescue  the  captive 
Princess,  commanded  the  boatmen  to  proceed. 
This  they  were  very  unwilling  to  do,  declaring  that 
at  this  tide  it  would  be  exceedingly  dangerous 
and  practically  impossible  to  go  down  the  river. 
Elizabeth,  too,  entreated  them  to  wait  for  the  next 
tide,  hoping  to  gain  more  time  and  thereby  to 
receive  an  answer  from  the  Queen. 

"  Time  and  tide  wait  for  no  man,"  was  the  un- 
yielding reply.  Seeing  that  further  delay  would 
not  be  granted,  she  resigned  herself  to  the  inevita- 
ble and  said  no  more.  The  reluctant  boatmen,  still 
protesting  loudly  at  the  danger  they  would  incur, 
were  harshly  commanded  to  proceed.  The  stern 
of  the  boat  struck  violently  against  the  timbers 
of  the  bridge,  and  it  was  with  great  danger  and 
difficulty  that  the  rowers  prevented  the  frail  barge 
with  its  Royal  passenger  from  capsizing. 

All  through  this  fearful  descent  of  the  river,  the 
Princess  preserved  outwardly  a  lofty  calm  and 
her  usual  majestic  mien,  although  her  thoughts 
could  not  have  been  other  than  dark  and  fore- 
boding, at  seeing  herself  utterly  defenceless,  sur- 
rounded by  pitiless  foes,  while  far  and  wide  around 
her  stretched  the  turbulent  waters  of  the  Thames. 
To  add  to  the  dreariness  of  the  scene,  a  heavy  rain 
had  set  in. 

The  lion-like  spirit  of  Elizabeth,  although  un- 
subdued by  the  peril  she  was  in,  was  deeply  sad- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  31 

dened  as  the  boat  drew  near  the  towers  and 
battlements  of  the  grim  old  fortress,  which,  at  near 
approach,  stood  out  black  and  threatening  above 
the  gloom  of  the  day.  The  thoughts  of  the  Royal 
captive  must  have  been  bitter  indeed  when  close 
to  that  stout  prison  from  which  her  own  mother 
and  many  a  prisoner  of  State  had  come  forth  to 
die.  Still,  she  spoke  no  word  and  gave  no  indi- 
cation of  her  emotions  until  she  realized  that  they 
were  about  to  land  her  at  the  Traitor's  Gate. 
Then  her  proud  heart  rebelled  at  this  insult,  and 
she  cried :  "  I  refuse  to  land  at  the  stairs  where 
all  traitors  and  offenders  customably  land,  and 
neither  well  can  I,  unless  I  go  over  my  shoe  in  the 
water." 

But  when  she  was  told  it  was  by  the  Queen's 
express  command  that  she  was  brought  there  and 
that  she  would  be  permitted  no  choice,  she  stepped 
firmly  from  the  barge  onto  the  wet  and  slippery 
landing,  declining  all  assistance  and  saying :  "  If 
it  be  so,  my  Lords,  I  must  needs  obey,  protesting 
before  all  your  honours,  that  here  now  step- 
peth  as  true  a  subject  as  ever  was  towards  the 
Queen's  Highness.  And  before  thee,  O  God,  I 
speak  it,  having  now  none  other  friend  but  only 
Thee!" 

"  It  is  no  time  now  to  test  the  truth  of  this," 
was  the  rough  response  of  her  captors,  as  they 
urged  her  forward.  "  But  it  is  better  for  you, 
if  it  be  so." 

"  You  have   said   well,   my  Lords,"    answered 


32  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Elizabeth,  with  majestic  calm.     "  I  am  sorry  that 
I  have  troubled  you." 

She  then  entered  the  courtyard  of  the  Tower 
and  passed  between  rows  of  liveried  men  and 
armed  soldiers,  drawn  up  on  both  sides  of  the 
entrance.  She  inquired  the  cause  of  this  and  was 
told  it  was  the  customary  way  of  receiving  pris- 
oners of  State. 

"  And  if  it  be  for  my  cause,"  said  the  Princess, 
"  I  beseech  you  that  they  may  be  dismissed,  for 
it  is  not  well  to  stand  outside  in  this  inclement 
weather." 

Then  these  stalwart  guards,  pleased  at  this 
kindly  speech  and  moved  with  compassion  for  the 
forlorn  prisoner,  knelt  down  and  prayed  God  to 
preserve  Her  Highness. 

Elizabeth,  her  heart  touched  by  this  simple  ex- 
pression of  good-will,  thanked  them  graciously, 
with  a  tremulous  smile,  and  bade  them  rise. 

She  then  sank  upon  a  cold,  damp  stone  and  re- 
mained sitting  there,  regardless  of  the  rain  that 
was  pouring  down  upon  her.  Lord  Chandos,  the 
Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  advised  her  to  come  in 
out  of  the  wet,  and,  upon  her  refusal,  laid  his  coat 
about  her  shoulders.  She  dashed  it  from  her, 
"  with  a  good  dash,"  exclaiming,  "  Better  sitting 
here  than  in  a  worse  place.  For  God  knoweth! 
I  know  not,  whither  you  will  bring  me." 

At  this,  her  Gentleman  Usher,  who  was  one  of 
her  most  faithful  and  devoted  attendants  among 
the  few  she  had  been  permitted  to  keep  about  her, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  83 

burst  into  tears.  Her  Highness  was  moved  by  the 
sympathy  of  this  loyal  servant  and  rose  from  her 
hard  seat,  saying,  "  she  knew  her  truth  to  be 
such  that  no  man  should  have  cause  to  weep  for 
her."  As  she  passed  through  the  gloomy  portal, 
the  doors  were  locked  and  bolted  behind  her.  She 
was  conducted  at  once  to  her  cell  which,  some  af- 
firm, was  in  the  Bell  Tower,  directly  under  the 
great  alarum  bell,  so  that  the  whole  fortress  could 
be  instantly  aroused  in  case  of  any  attempt  at 
escape.  Courtney  was  imprisoned  not  far  distant. 

There  was  a  great  conference  among  the  Lords 
as  to  how  they  could  guard  the  Princess  most 
strictly.  Many  harsh  measures  were  suggested, 
but  Sussex  advocated  close  restraint  without  undue 
severity.  "  For  just  dealing,"  said  he,  "  is  always 
answerable.  Let  us  take  heed,  my  Lords,  that  we 
go  not  beyond  our  commission,  for  she  was  our 
King's  daughter,  and  is,  we  know,  the  Prince  next 
in  blood.  Wherefore  let  us  so  deal  with  her  now, 
that  we  have  not,  if  it  so  happen,  to  answer  for  our 
dealings  hereafter." 

While  Elizabeth  languished  in  the  Tower, 
"  there  was  much  gaping  among  the  Lords  of  the 
Clergy  to  see  the  day  wherein  they  might  wash 
their  goodly  white  rochets  in  her  innocent  blood," 
writes  Foxe.  The  Lord  Chancellor  Gardiner 
clamoured  loudest  of  all  for  her  death. 

A  few  days  after  her  entrance  in  to  the  Tower, 
the  Princess  was  strictly  examined  by  Gardiner 
and  some  others  concerning  a  conversation  she 


34  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

had  held  with  Sir  James  Croft;  they  demanded, 
among  other  things,  to  know  why  she  had  moved 
from  Ashbridge  to  Donnington  Castle.  At  first, 
she  denied  all  knowledge  of  such  a  house,  and 
then,  seeing  that  no  one  was  disposed  to  believe 
her,  admitted  that  she  was  the  owner  of  it,  but 
emphatically  declared  that  she  had  never  been 
there. 

Then  her  examiners,  determined  to  prove  her 
complicity  in  the  plans  of  Croft,  had  him  brought 
into  the  cell  and  confronted  her  with  him. 

Elizabeth,  her  spirit  roused  by  this  persistent 
inquisition,  cried,  in  indignation :  "  My  Lords, 
you  do  examine  every  mean  prisoner  of  me! 
Wherein  me  thinks  you  do  me  great  injury.  If 
they  have  done  evil  and  offended  the  Queen's  Maj- 
esty, let  them  answer  to  it  accordingly.  I  beseech 
you,  my  Lords,  join  not  me  in  this  sort  with  any 
of  these  offenders,  and,  as  concerning  my  going  to 
Donnington  Castle,  I  do  remember  Master  Hoby 
and  mine  officers  and  you,  Sir  James  Croft,  had 
such  talk.  But  what  is  that  to  the  purpose,  my 
Lords,  but  that  I  may  go  to  my  own  houses  at 
all  times?" 

The  Earl  of  Arundel,  pleased  with  this  intrepid 
reply  and  the  courageous  bearing  of  the  captive 
Princess,  knelt  down  and  asked  her  pardon  for 
troubling  her  with  such  trifling  matters. 

Her  Highness  answered,  in  a  milder  tone  than 
before,  "  My  Lords,  you  did  sift  me  very  narrowly ! 
But  well  I  am  assured  you  shall  do  no  more  to  me 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  35 

than  God  hath  appointed,  and  so  God  forgive  you 
all." 

Croft,  much  moved  by  this  conciliatory  speech, 
knelt  in  his  turn  and  said  he  was  sorry  to  be 
brought  as  a  witness  against  her,  and  declared  his 
utter  innocence  of  the  matter. 

Arundel,  before  this  a  most  determined  enemy 
to  the  Princess,  now  began  to  speak  loudly  in  her 
favour.  Although  he  was  many  years  her  senior, 
he  became  her  persistent  suitor  throughout  the 
rest  of  his  life,  and  was  one  of  the  familiar  figures 
at  the  Court  of  the  Virgin  Queen.  His  attachment 
was  probably  sincere,  although  fostered  by  ambi- 
tion, as  it  began  at  a  time  when  the  object  of  his 
affections  seemed  more  likely  to  ascend  the  scaffold 
than  the  throne. 


IV 

THE  FURTHER  IMPRISONMENT  OF  THE 
PRINCESS 

On  April  85,  Sir  Thomas  Wyatt  was  beheaded. 
Before  laying  his  head  on  the  block,  he  made  a 
final  statement,  completely  contradicting  his  pre- 
vious one  in  which  he  had  accused  the  Princess 
and  Courtney  of  being  fellow-conspirators.  He 
said :  "  Concerning  my  Lady  Elizabeth's  Grace 
and  the  Earl  of  Devonshire,  here  I  take  it  upon 
my  death  that  they  never  knew  of  the  conspiracy, 
neither  of  my  first  rising;  and,  as  touching  any 
fault  that  is  laid  to  their  charge,  I  cannot  accuse 
them.  (God  I  take  in  witness.)  " 

In  spite  of  the  exoneration  by  the  rebel  leader, 
Her  Highness  and  Courtney  were  as  closely  con- 
fined as  before.  Her  attendants,  fearing  that  an 
attempt  would  be  made  to  do  away  wjth  her  se- 
cretly through  poison  placed  in  her  food,  besought 
the  Council  that  some  of  her  own  servants  might 
be  appointed  to  carry  the  food  direct  to  her,  in- 
stead of  allowing  the  soldiers  of  the  Tower  to 
convey  it  as  had  been  the  custom.  This  request 
was  granted,  and,  after  that,  one  of  the  gentlemen 

of  the  Princess'  suite,  her  clerk  of  the  kitchen, 

36 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  37 

and  two  purveyors  brought  her  food  to  her  once 
a  day.  This  had  been  cooked,  from  her  first  en- 
trance into  the  Tower,  by  her  own  servants,  but 
there  was  opportunity  for  foul  play  offered  in  the 
former  handing  of  it  over  to  the  guards  of  the 
Tower.  This  danger  was  now  eliminated,  and  the 
men  bearing  the  food  were  accompanied  and  closely 
watched  by  Sir  John  Gage,  Constable  of  the 
Tower. 

After  Elizabeth  had  been  imprisoned  a  month, 
she  sent  for  Gage  and  Lord  Chandos  and  asked 
their  permission  to  take  a  daily  walk  in  the  open 
air,  for  the  close  restraint  was  telling  upon  her 
health.  They  refused  this  request,  saying  that 
they  had  commands  to  the  contrary  which  they 
dared  not  disobey. 

Then  the  Princess  requested  that  she  might  at 
least  walk  in  the  Queen's  Lodgings,  an  apartment 
reserved  for  the  use  of  Royalty.  But  her  jailers 
answered  that  even  this  would  require  a  special 
suit  to  the  Queen  and  her  Council. 

"  Well,  my  Lords,"  exclaimed  Her  Highness, 
losing  all  patience,  "  if  the  matter  be  so  hard  that 
they  must  be  sued  unto  for  so  small  a  thing,  and 
if  friendship  be  so  strait,  God  comfort  me ! " 

The  next  day,  however,  Lord  Chandos  told  her 
that  he  had  appealed  to  the  Council  in  her  behalf ; 
after  a  long  and  stormy  debate  it  had  been  de- 
cided to  allow  her  to  walk  in  the  Queen's  Lodgings, 
closely  attended  by  himself,  the  Constable,  and 
three  gentlewomen  in  the  service  of  the  Queen, 


38  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

but  all  windows  must  be  tightly  shut  and  locked. 
The  Princess,  forced  to  be  content  with  this 
small  favour,  thanked  the  Lieutenant  for  his  good- 
will. 

Later  on,  permission  was  granted  her  to  walk  in 
a  little  garden,  the  doors  and  gates  of  which  were 
securely  locked.  When  she  took  her  exercise,  the 
prisoners  on  that  side  of  the  Tower  were  not  al- 
lowed to  communicate  with  her  in  any  way,  or 
even  to  look  out  of  the  windows  into  the  garden. 

A  little  boy  of  three  or  four  years,  the  son  of 
one  of  the  jailers,  used  to  visit  the  cells  of  many 
of  the  prisoners  and  bring  them  flowers.  Eliza- 
beth and  Courtney  were  among  the  number  whose 
solitude  was  cheered  by  the  coming  of  the  child. 

The  enemies  of  the  Princess,  wishing  to  prove 
that  she  and  the  Earl  kept  up  a  correspondence 
by  means  of  this  child,  called  him  to  a  room  in 
the  Tower,  and  bribed  him  with  fruits  and  candy 
to  answer  their  questions,  all  of  which  were  in- 
tended to  incriminate  the  Royal  captive  and  her 
weak-minded  lover. 

They  first  asked  the  boy  when  he  had  last  seen 
Devonshire.  He  replied  that  he  was  going  to 
see  him  by-and-by.  They  then  demanded  when  he 
was  with  Elizabeth.  "  Every  day,"  he  said 
quickly.  The  next  question,  following  close  upon 
this,  was  what  messages  or  tokens  the  Earl  sent 
to  the  Princess. 

The  child,  perhaps  divining  the  malicious  intent 
of  this  persistent  questioning,  answered,  "  I  will 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  39 

go  at  once  and  find  out  what  he  will  give  me  to 
carry  to  her." 

"  This  is  a  crafty  boy,"  said  Sir  John  Gage. 
"What  say  you,  my  Lord  Chandos?  " 

"  I  pray  you,  my  Lord,  give  me  the  sweets  you 
promised  me,"  pleaded  the  child. 

"  Nay,"  was  the  harsh  reply,  "  rather  shalt  thou 
be  whipped  if  thou  come  any  more  to  the  Lady 
Elizabeth  or  the  Lord  Courtney." 

But  the  loyal  child  fearlessly  answered,  "  I  will 
bring  the  Lady,  my  Mistress,  more  flowers." 

The  Lords,  enraged  at  the  innocent  boy,  ordered 
his  father  to  keep  him  out  of  the  prisoners' 
rooms. 

The  next  day,  as  the  Princess  was  walking  in 
the  garden,  the  little  fellow  peeped  through  a  key- 
hole and  cried,  "  Mistress,  I  can  bring  you  no 
more  flowers." 

She  smiled  sadly  and  bitterly,  but  said  nothing, 
for  she  understood  the  cause  full  well. 

The  Constable,  discovering  this  further  friendly 
act  of  the  child,  rebuked  the  father  harshly,  and 
ordered  him  to  put  the  boy  out  of  the  Tower, 
saying,  "  It  is  a  crafty  knave,  let  me  see  him  here 
no  more." 

While  Elizabeth  was  in  the  Tower,  Gardiner 
"  sent  a  secret  writ,  signed  by  a  few  of  the  Council, 
for  her  private  execution,  and,  had  Mr.  Bridges, 
the  Warden  of  the  Tower,  been  so  little  scrupulous 
of  dark  assassination  as  this  pious  prelate  was, 
she  must  have  perished.  The  warrant  not  having 


40  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  Queen's  signature,  Mr.  Bridges  hastened  to 
give  Her  Majesty  information  of  it,  and  to  know 
her  mind."  (Foxe,  "  Acts  and  Monuments.") 

On  May  5,  Sir  John  Gage  was  replaced  as  Con- 
stable by  Sir  Henry  Bedingfield,  who  arrived  ac- 
companied by  a  troop  of  one  hundred  soldiers. 
This  sudden  change  of  officers  amazed  and  alarmed 
the  Princess,  causing  her  to  think  that  the  Council 
had  now  fully  determined  on  her  death.  She  in- 
quired if  the  Lady  Jane's  scaffold  had  been  taken 
down.  On  being  told  it  was,  she  seemed  somewhat 
relieved,  but  asked  what  sort  of  man  Sir  Henry 
was  and  if  he  was  of  the  nature  that  would  se- 
cretly murder  her,  were  he  so  commanded.  The 
Wardens  answered  that  they  did  not  know  what 
sort  of  man  he  was,  but  they  did  not  believe  God 
would  permit  such  wickedness. 

"  God  grant  it  be  so  f "  she  cried.  "  I  beseech 
Thee,  O  God!  to  hear  me  Thy  creature  which  am 
Thy  servant  and  at  Thy  commandment,  trusting 
by  Thy  grace  ever  so  to  remain." 

Shortly  after  this,  Her  Highness  was  informed 
that  she  was  to  be  carried  from  the  Tower  under 
escort  of  Sir  Henry  and  his  soldiers.  But  she, 
distrusting  this  sudden  removal,  requested  permis- 
sion to  remain  where  she  was. 

Lord  Chandos  told  her  that  she  had  no  alterna- 
tive, but  was  to  be  taken  at  once  to  the  manor- 
house  of  Woodstock.  When  she  asked  him  the 
cause  of  her  departure,  he  said  that  other  pris- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  41 

oners  were  to  be  brought  to  the  Tower,  but  who 
he  did  not  know. 

On  May  16,  Elizabeth,  together  with  her  at- 
tendants and  personal  belongings,  was  removed 
from  the  Tower. 

Under  escort  of  Bedingfield  and  his  soldiers,  she 
was  conveyed  by  water  that  day  as  far  as  Rich- 
mond, where  she  passed  the  night.  Here,  all  her 
own  men  were  removed,  and  the  soldiers  of  Sir 
Henry  appointed  in  their  place  to  attend  her. 
This  made  her  suspect  that  there  was  a  plot 
brewing  against  her  life,  and,  as  she  was  retiring 
to  her  chamber,  she  called  her  Gentleman  Usher 
and  bade  him  and  her  other  attendants  pray  for 
her.  "For  this  night,"  she  said,  "I  think  to 
die." 

The  Gentleman  Usher  gave  what  small  comfort 
he  could,  but,  having  like  fears,  hastened  at  once 
to  the  court  where  Sir  Henry  and  Lord  Williams 
of  Thame  were  walking  and  besought  them  to  de- 
clare their  intentions  regarding  the  Princess,  say- 
ing that  he  and  their  companions  would  give  their 
lives  to  save  hers,  which  they  feared  was  in  dan- 
ger. 

Lord  Thame  answered  quickly,  "  God  forbid  that 
there  be  any  such  purpose!  Rather  than  that  it 
should  be  so,  I  and  my  men  are  ready  to  die  at  her 
feet  also." 

The  next  morning  the  party  passed  on  to  Wind- 
sor. The  rest  of  the  journey  was  made  on  horse- 


42  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

back,  and,  as  Elizabeth  rode  through  the  villages, 
the  people  testified  their  love  and  sympathy  for 
her  by  presenting  her  with  various  gifts  and  ring- 
ing the  bells  in  joy  at  her  coming  among  them. 
While  these  demonstrations  cheered  and  delighted 
the  heart  of  the  prisoner,  showing  her  what  a 
favourite  she  was  with  the  nation  at  large,  they 
greatly  displeased  Bedingfield.  He  called  them 
"  rebels  "  and  "  traitors,"  and  caused  some  of  the 
more  jubilant  of  the  bell-ringers  to  be  seized  by 
his  soldiers  and  placed  in  the  stocks. 

The  next  night  was  spent  at  the  house  of  Lord 
Thame  in  the  village  of  Thame,  where  the  Princess 
was  entertained  in  a  manner  suiting  her  dignity. 
Here  many  Lords,  Ladies  and  the  neighbouring 
gentry  paid  their  court  to  her. 

Bedingfield  was  mightily  offended  at  this  and 
bade  them  remember  that  the  object  of  their  flat- 
tering attentions  was  the  Queen's  prisoner,  and 
nothing  else,  and  that  they  had  best  beware  the 
results  of  such  treasonable  adulation. 

But  Lord  Thame  said  his  instructions  were  that 
Her  Grace  should  be  made  merry  and  comfortable 
in  his  house  and  he  intended  to  carry  out  his  com- 
mission. 

Sir  Henry,  to  show  his  further  authority  and 
utter  lack  of  respect  due  to  the  Princess,  went  up 
to  her  rooms  and,  sitting  down  in  a  chair  espe- 
cially provided  for  her,  and  stretching  out  his 
legs  as  though  he  were  master  of  the  apartment, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  43 

insolently  ordered  his  valet  to  pull  off  his 
boots.* 

The  guests,  when  they  heard  of  this,  accused  him 
of  undue  harshness  and  complete  lack  of  courtesy 
toward  the  Queen's  sister.  This  championship  of 
the  Princess,  however,  only  enraged  Bedingfield, 
and,  as  soon  as  supper  was  finished,  he  called  the 
host  and  ordered  him  to  clear  the  house  of  all  the 
company. 

Lord  Thame,  angered  at  this  command  and  per- 
sistent rudeness  toward  their  Royal  charge,  replied 
that  the  house  should  be  cleared  of  all,  including 
Sir  Henry  himself  and  his  soldiers. 

"  Nay,"  roared  Sir  Henry,  "  my  soldiers  shall 
watch  all  night  and  whether  there  be  need  or  not, 
shall  do  so  out  of  distrust  for  the  company." 

So  an  evening  that  would  otherwise  have  passed 
pleasantly  for  the  Princess,  was  spoiled  by  the 
discourtesy  and  suspicious  watchfulness  of  the 
over-zealous  Bedingfield. 

On  May  20,  Her  Highness  reached  Woodstock, 
where  she  was  as  closely  guarded  as  when  in  the 
Tower.  Soldiers  were  stationed  both  inside  and 
out.  But  she  was  allowed  to  walk  in  the  gardens, 
though  under  strict  surveillance.  Each  gate  to 
these  gardens  had  several  locks,  and  Sir  Henry 
kept  the  keys  to  every  one  in  his  own  possession 
and  would  trust  them  to  no  one. 

*This  anecdote  has  been  discredited,  according  to  F.  A. 
Mumby. 


44  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

One  day,  Elizabeth,  annoyed  by  his  close  attend- 
ance, sharply  rebuked  him,  calling  him  her 
"  jailer."  At  this  he  knelt  down  and  said  he 
meant  no  offence,  but  was  only  doing  his  duty  as 
one  of  her  officers. 

"  Good  Lord,  deliver  me  from  such  officers ! " 
she  exclaimed  vehemently. 

Foxe  tells  us  that  one  of  her  attendants,  who 
was  somewhat  of  a  wag,  and  greatly  amused  at  the 
elaborate  system  of  locks  and  bolts  employed  by 
Sir  Henry  to  ensure  the  safety  of  the  captive  and 
prevent  her  from  communicating  with  any  one  out- 
side, once  saw  a  goat  in  the  garden  where  Her 
Highness  was  walking.  He  picked  up  the  animal, 
threw  it  over  his  shoulder,  and  carried  it  to  the 
Princess  who  asked  what  he  had  there. 

He  answered,  "  An  it  please  Your  Grace,  I  can- 
not tell,  for  I  am  uncertain  whether  he  be  one  of  the 
Queen's  friends  or  not.  But  I  will  carry  him  to 
Sir  Henry  Bedingfield  to  know  what  he  is." 

This  he  did  at  once,  and  to  Sir  Henry's  half- 
angry  question  as  to  what  the  creature  was,  he 
replied,  "  I  cannot  tell  what  he  is.  I  pray  you 
examine  him,  for  I  found  him  walking  in  the  place 
where  my  Lady's  Grace  was  and  I  do  not  know 
what  talk  they  have  had  together.  I  do  not  un- 
derstand him,  but  take  him  to  be  some  stranger; 
as  I  am  the  Queen's  subject  and  it  is  her  will  that 
no  stranger  have  access  to  the  Princess,  I  hold  it 
my  duty  to  bring  this  stranger  to  you  to  examine 
as  you  see  fit." 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  45 

Sir  Henry,  not  perhaps  possessing  a  sense  of 
humour,  was  greatly  displeased  and  ordered  the 
fellow  to  depart  with  the  goat. 

Lord  Thame  constantly  showed  himself  a  good 
friend  to  the  Princess,  and,  finally,  as  the  result  of 
his  intercession,  obtained  permission  for  her  to  re- 
move from  Woodstock  to  his  house  where  she  might 
be  treated  with  less  harshness.  Her  Highness,  de- 
lighted at  the  proposed  change,  made  all  her 
preparations  to  depart.  But  her  persistent  enemy, 
Gardiner,  interposed  his  authority,  and  at  the 
last  minute  letters  were  sent  to  stop  the  journey. 

Elizabeth  became  much  depressed  at  this,  feeling 
that  she  was  indeed  in  the  hands  of  her  foes,  and 
that  it  was  well-nigh  useless  for  her  friends  to  try 
to  aid  her.  One  day,  hearing  a  milkmaid  singing 
merrily  in  a  pasture  near  by,  she  sighed  and  said : 
"  That  milkmaid  is  better  off  and  her  life  more 
happy  than  mine  in  the  state  I  am  now  in."  A 
sad  admission  indeed  for  the  proud-spirited  Tudor 
Princess ! 

Another  day,  Her  Highness  scratched  upon  a 
window-pane  with  a  diamond  the  following  lines : 

"  Much  suspected  by  me, 
Nothing  proved  can  be, 
Quoth  Elizabeth,  the  prisoner." 

This  was,  to  be  sure,  the  attitude  of  the  Council 
toward  the  sister  of  their  Sovereign.  There  was 
suspicion  in  abundance,  but  proof  was  not  forth- 
coming. 


46  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

During  the  Princess'  imprisonment  at  Wood- 
stock, several  attempts  were  made  to  murder  her. 
A  fire  was  discovered  one  night  in  the  room  be- 
neath the  one  she  slept  in  and  was  extinguished 
with  difficulty.  Soon  after  this,  Paul  Perry,  a 
ruffian,  whose  bloody  sword  was  always  for  hire, 
was  appointed  to  assassinate  her.  When  this  at- 
tempt also  failed,  Bassett,  a  creature  of  Gardiner, 
then  undertook  the  sanguinary  deed.  He  went 
to  confer  with  Bedingfield  about  it,  but  as  Sir 
Henry  had  gone  to  London  and  left  strict  orders 
that  no  one  should  be  admitted  in  his  absence,  Bas- 
sett, too,  failed  of  his  purpose. 

After  a  year  at  Woodstock,  Her  Highness  craved 
the  permission  of  the  Council  to  be  allowed  to 
write  to  the  Queen.  After  a  long  delay  this  was 
at  last  granted.  But  Sir  Henry  brought  the  pen 
and  ink,  stood  by  her  while  she  wrote  and  then  told 
her  that  he  would  carry  the  letter  to  the  Queen. 
But  the  Princess  said  she  would  have  one  of  her 
own  men,  "  for  she  neither  trusted  him  nor  his 
soldiers." 

He  replied  that  no  one  of  her  men  would  dare 
to  carry  the  letter  of  one  who  rested  under  such 
a  cloud  of  suspicion  as  she  did. 

To  this  the  Princess  answered,  with  all  her 
wonted  spirit,  "  I  am  assured  I  have  none  so  dis- 
honest that  would  deny  my  request,  but  will  be  as 
willing  to  serve  me  now  as  before." 

He  assured  her,  however,  that  even  were  this 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  47 

true,  his  commission  was  to  the  contrary  and  would 
not  allow  it. 

"  You  charge  me  very  often  with  your  commis- 
sions," she  cried,  passionately.  "  I  pray  God  you 
may  justly  answer  for  the  cruel  dealing  you  use 
toward  me." 

This  rebuke  caused  Sir  Henry  to  kneel  again 
and  protest  that  he  was  only  doing  his  duty  in 
obeying  the  Queen,  but  that  he  would  as  willingly 
serve  her  were  it  possible.  Still  he  did  not  allow 
her  letters  to  be  carried  until  nearly  a  week  after 
the  writing,  and  then  one  of  her  own  gentlemen 
was  at  last  dispatched  with  them. 

Elizabeth  bore  no  enmity  to  Bedingfield  for  his 
severity  toward  her.  Upon  her  accession  she  al- 
lowed him  to  keep  his  life,  lands  and  liberty,  laugh- 
ingly administering  the  simple  rebuke  that  he 
should  have  the  custody  of  any  prisoner  of  State 
whom  she  should  desire  to  be  strictly  guarded. 
Later  on,  she  even  paid  him  a  visit  at  his  country 
seat  during  one  of  her  progresses,  and  once  again, 
though  this  time  in  merriment,  hailed  him  as  her 
"jailer." 

It  is  probable  that  Bedingfield  was  so  strict  a 
guard  through  fear  of  some  secret  attempt  to  mur- 
der his  charge,  and  was  determined  that  she  should 
remain  safe  while  in  his  custody,  at  least. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  summer  the  Princess  fell 
ill,  and  two  Court  physicians  were  sent  to  attend 
her.  They  returned  with  very  favourable  accounts 


48  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

of  her  loyalty  and  gracious  demeanour.  The 
Queen  was  pleased  at  this  and  sometimes  now  was 
heard  to  speak  of  her  as  "  sister,"  but  the  Bishops, 
always  relentless  enemies  to  the  child  of  Anne  Bo- 
leyn,  said,  "  they  marvelled  she  did  not  submit  her- 
self to  Her  Majesty's  mercy,  seeing  she  had  of- 
fended Her  Highness." 

When  this  was  reported  to  Elizabeth,  she  flew 
into  a  rage,  exclaiming,  "  I  will  never  submit  myself 
to  them  I  have  never  offended.  For,  if  I  have 
offended  and  am  guilty,  I  then  crave  no  mercy  but 
the  law,  which  I  am  certain  I  should  have  had  ere 
this  if  I  could  be  proved  guilty,  for  I  know  myself, 
I  thank  God,  to  be  out  of  the  danger  thereof, 
wishing  that  I  were  as  clear  out  of  the  peril  of  my 
enemy ! " 

Shortly  after  the  Queen's  marriage  on  July  3, 
1554,  the  Bishops  and  Lords  discussed  a  plan  for 
marrying  off  the  Princess,  who,  however,  seemed 
averse  to  any  marriage  whatsoever.  The  Spanish 
party  suggested  that  she  wed  some  foreigner  in 
order  that  she  might  leave  the  Kingdom  altogether. 
These  plans  were  soon  abandoned  on  account  of 
the  difficulty  of  finding  a  husband  who  would  please 
the  Princess.  Elizabeth  scornfully  rejected  the 
idea  of  leaving  England;  she  wished  to  be  on 
English  soil  when  the  Throne  should  become  va- 
cant. 

Finally  Mary,  urged  by  Philip  to  release  her 
sister,  at  last  summoned  her  to  Hampton  Court 
in  July,  1555.  She  left  Woodstock  again  under 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  49 

escort  of  Lord  Williams,  Sir  Henry  and  his  sol- 
diers. 

On  the  journey  the  Princess  was  met  by  fifty 
or  sixty  of  her  gentlemen  and  yeomen,  who  had 
not  been  allowed  to  see  her  since  her  imprisonment. 
They  hailed  her  with  welcoming  shouts  and  demon- 
strations of  joy  which  would  have  moved  her  to 
make  some  fitting  reply  had  not  Sir  Henry  inter- 
posed and  sternly  commanded  them  to  depart  in 
the  Queen's  name.  So  they  were  forced  to  with- 
draw without  speaking  to  their  Mistress,  who 
seemed  as  grieved  as  they. 

Next  day  Her  Highness  reached  Hampton  Court 
and  was  conducted  up  a  back  stair  case  to  the 
Royal  lodgings.  The  doors  were  tightly  locked 
behind  her,  and  for  two  weeks  she  was  guarded 
night  and  day  by  armed  soldiers  without  receiving 
any  communication  from  the  Court. 

Then,  finally,  came  Lord  William  Howard,  who 
treated  her  with  a  respect  that  she  had  not  been 
accustomed  to  of  late.  His  deferential  manner 
emboldened  her  to  ask  permission  to  speak  with  the 
Council. 

In  answer  to  her  request,  Gardiner,  the  Earl  of 
Arundel,  and  two  other  Lords  visited  her  soon  after 
and  greeted  her  with  a  show  of  humbleness  that 
surprised  her. 

"  My  Lords !  I  am  glad  to  see  you !  "  she  cried. 
"  For  methinks  I  have  been  kept  a  great  while 
from  you  desolately  alone.  Wherefore  I  desire 
you  to  be  a  means  to  the  King's  and  Queen's  Maj- 


50  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

esties  that  I  may  be  delivered  from  prison  wherein 
I  have  been  kept  a  long  space,  as  is  known  to 

you." 

Gardiner  knelt  down,  and  told  her  if  she  sub- 
mitted herself  to  the  Queen's  Grace  she  would  be 
mercifully  dealt  with. 

But  the  Princess  answered  haughtily,  "  Rather 
than  do  so,  she  would  lie  in  prison  all  the  days  of 
her  life.  For  she  craved  no  mercy  at  Her  Maj- 
esty's hand,  but  rather  the  law,  if  she  had  ever 
offended  her  in  thought,  word,  or  deed." 

"  In  yielding,"  she  concluded,  "  I  should  con- 
fess myself  to  be  an  offender,  which  I  never  was 
towards  Her  Majesty,  and  therefore  I  say,  my 
Lords,  it  were  better  for  me  to  lie  in  prison  for 
truth  than  to  be  abroad  and  suspected  of  my 
Prince." 

The  Councillors  promised  to  give  her  message 
to  the  Queen  and  departed. 

The  next  day  Gardiner  came  again,  and  told 
her  the  Queen  marvelled  that  she  should  declare 
she  had  not  offended  her,  for  then  it  would  seem 
she  had  wrongfully  imprisoned  her. 

"  Nay,  it  may  please  her  to  punish  me  as  she 
thinketh  good,"  answered  the  Princess,  quickly, 
careful  to  make  no  false  step. 

"  Her  Majesty  willeth  me  to  say  you  must  tell 
another  tale  ere  you  be  set  at  liberty,"  said  the 
implacable  Gardiner. 

"  I  had  as  lief  be  in  prison  with  honesty  and 
truth  as  to  be  abroad  suspected  of  Her  Majesty, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  51 

and  what  I  have  said  I  will  stand  to,  for  I  will 
never  belie  myself,"  cried  the  Princess,  the  Tudor 
temper  getting  the  better  of  her  caution. 

"  Then  Your  Grace  hath  the  vantage  of  me  and 
the  other  Lords  for  your  long  and  wrong  im- 
prisonment? "  queried  Gardiner,  insinuatingly. 

"  What  vantage  I  have,  you  best  know,  taking 
God  to  witness.  I  desire  no  vantage  at  your 
hands,  but  for  your  so  dealing  with  me,  may  God 
forgive  you  and  me  also,"  said  the  Princess,  think- 
ing it  prudent  to  soften  her  tone  somewhat. 

A  week  later,  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  she  was 
summoned  to  the  Queen's  presence.  As  Elizabeth 
had  not  seen  her  sister  for  two  years,  she  was  in- 
clined to  distrust  this  summons. 

Sir  Henry  Bedingfield,  watchful  as  ever,  brought 
her  into  the  garden  and  up  a  flight  of  steps  to  the 
Queen's  apartments.  Her  Highness  was  followed 
by  her  own  gentlewomen,  while  her  Gentleman 
Usher  and  her  grooms  went  before,  carrying 
torches.  At  the  top  of  the  stairs,  all  the  at- 
tendants, with  the  exception  of  one  lady,  were  for- 
bidden to  accompany  the  Princess  further. 

Upon  entering  the  Queen's  bedchamber,  Eliza- 
beth kneeled  down  and  prayed  God  to  preserve 
Her  Majesty.  Before  rising,  she  added  an  ear- 
nest desire  that  her  sister  should  believe  her  as 
true  a  subject  as  any  she  had,  regardless  of  the 
false  reports  that  had  gone  abroad  concerning 
her. 

"  You  will  not  then  confess  your  fault,"  asked 


52  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  Queen,  "  but  stand  stoutly  in  your  truth?  I 
pray  it  may  turn  out  so." 

"  If  it  does  not,  I  request  neither  favour  nor 
pardon  at  Your  Majesty's  hands,"  was  the  proud 
reply  of  the  Princess. 

"  Well  then,  since  you  still  persevere  in  your 
truth,  probably  you  will  not  confess  but  that  you 
have  been  wrongfully  punished,"  said  Queen  Mary. 

"  I  must  not  say  so,  if  it  please  Your  Majesty, 
—  to  you,"  answered  Her  Highness,  naively. 

"  Why  then,  belike  you  will  to  others,"  cried 
Mary,  angrily. 

"  Nay,  if  it  please  Your  Majesty,  I  have  borne 
the  burden  and  must  still  bear  it.  I  humbly  be- 
seech Your  Majesty  to  have  a  good  opinion  of  me, 
and  to  think  me  to  be  your  true  subject,  not  only 
from  the  beginning,  but  forever  as  long  as  life 
lasts,"  answered  Elizabeth. 

After  the  Queen  spoke  some  conciliatory  words 
in  reply,  a  half  reconciliation  between  the  Royal 
sisters  took  place,  after  which  the  Princess  re- 
tired again  to  her  lodgings. 

King  Philip  was  thought  to  have  been  hidden 
behind  the  tapestry  during  the  whole  interview. 
At  any  rate,  he  used  his  influence  with  Mary  to 
induce  her  to  pardon  the  Princess  for  whom  he 
evinced  considerable  admiration.  Thomas  Cecil 
says  that  Philip,  after  his  return  to  Spain,  re- 
marked that  "  whatever  he  suffered  from  Queen 
Elizabeth  was  the  just  judgment  of  God,  because, 
being  married  to  Queen  Mary,  a  most  virtuous 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  53 

and  good  lady,  yet  in  the  fancy  of  love  he  could 
not  affect  her;  but  as  for  the  Lady  Elizabeth,  he 
was  enamoured  of  her,  being  a  fair  and  beautiful 
woman." 

A  week  after  the  interview  with  Mary,  the 
set  free  and  given  permission  to  re- 
state  at  her  favourite  dwelling,  Hat- 
Ho*use  in  Hertfordshire.  But  Sir  Thomas 
Pope,  one  of  the  councillors,  was  sent  to  live  in 
her  household  and  keep  close  watch  on  her  actions 

during  the  remainder  of  Mary's  reign.    , 

For  prudence's  sake,  the  Princess  Elizabeth 
was  forced  to  conform  outwardly,  at  least,  to  the 
Catholic  religion.  But  the  Queen,  who  doubted 
her  sincerity,  had  her  questioned  regarding  her 
belief  in  the  presence  of  the  Divine  in  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  quick-witted 
Princess,  without  hesitation,  replied  in  these  ex- 
tempore and  ambiguous  lines: 

"  Christ  was  the  word  that  spake  it, 
He  took  the  bread  and  brake  it, 
And  what  his  word  did  make  it, 
That  I  believe  and  take  it." 

This  clever  avoidance  of  a  theological  difficulty 
silenced  her  questioners  and  they  forebore  to  ex- 
amine her  further  on  points  of  belief. 

Although  the  Princess  still  continued  to  be 
closely  watched,  after  the  death  of  Gardiner,  her 
danger  steadily  decreased,  and  she  succeeded  in 
ingratiating  herself  with  the  Queen,  while  at  the 


54  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

same  time,  she  skilfully  evaded  the  numerous 
offers  of  marriage  with  which  she  was  harassed. 
She  continued  on  good  terms  with  Mary  up  to  the 
last  who,  a  few  days  before  her  death,  sent  the 
Crown  jewels  to  Elizabeth  together  with  her  dying 
requests  that  she  be  good  to  her  servants,  pay 
back  the  sums  lent  on  privy  seals,  and  continue  the 
Church  as  she  had  established  it.  The  first  two 
of  these  requests,  the  Princess  carefully  carried 
out. 


THE  ACCESSION  OF  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

"  This  Queen  of  Queens  was  openly  proclaimed 
the  17th  day  of  November,  1558,  being  then 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  abundantly  adorned  with 
the  gifts  of  nature  and  princely  education,  having 
gained  by  experience  and  adversity  wisdom  above 
her  age,  and  induced  by  God's  special  Grace,  with 
true  Zeal  to  Piety  and  Religion,"  writes  Camden 
in  his  "  History  of  the  Most  Renowned  and  Vic- 
torious Princess  Elizabeth,  Late  Queen  of  Eng- 
land." 

When  the  death  of  Queen  Mary  was  announced 
in  the  Parliament  Chamber,  where  there  happened 
to  be  a  session  at  the  time,  there  was  a  moment 
of  silence  in  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
Sovereign.  Then  the  whole  building  echoed  and 
re-echoed  with  shouts  of  "  God  save  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, reign  she  most  long,  reign  she  most  hap- 
pily!" 

Immediately  after  this,  the  Parliament  breaking 
up,  proclaimed  her  in  the  Palace  of  Westminster 
and  throughout  the  City  of  London  as  "  Queen  of 
England,  France  and  Ireland,  Defendress  of  the 

Faith."     The  streets  were  filled  with  throngs  of 

55 


56  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

people,  shouting  with  joy  at  her  accession  and 
offering  prayers  for  a  lengthy  and  prosperous 
reign.  The  bells  in  all  the  London  churches  were 
rung  night  and  day,  huge  bonfires  were  kindled, 
and  tables  set  out  on  the  streets,  where  there  was 
eating,  drinking  and  merrymaking  until  the  early 
morning  hours.  On  Saturday,  the  Te  Deum 
Laudamus  was  sung  and  chanted  in  all  the 
churches,  which  were  thronged  with  people  giving 
thanks  for  the  accession  of  a  popular  Sovereign, 
who,  from  her  childhood,  had  been  the  darling  of 
the  nation. 

During  her  entire  life,  says  Camden,  no  ruler 
was  so  attended  by  affectionate  demonstrations 
and  enthusiastic  acclamations,  as  Queen  Eliza- 
beth upon  all  her  appearances  in  public. 

After  the  proclaiming  of  the  new  Queen,  the 
Earl  of  Arundel,  Lord  Clinton,  the  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke, and  others  rode  post  haste  to  Hatfield 
House  where  Elizabeth  was  living  in  retirement, 
pursuing  her  studies  under  the  guidance  of  her 
tutor,  Roger  Ascham.  When  the  death  of  Mary 
and  her  own  accession  was  announced  to  the  Prin- 
cess, she  fell  on  her  knees,  after  drawing  a  long 
breath,  exclaiming,  "  A  Domino  factum  est  istud 
et  est  mirabile  in  oculis  nostris — it  is  the  Lord's 
doing  and  it  is  wonderful  in  our  eyes."  According 
to  Naunton,  this  saying  was  afterwards  placed  on 
the  gold  coins  of  her  reign,  and  on  the  silver  coins 
another  saying  of  hers,  "  Posui  Deum  adjutorem 
meum  —  I  have  taken  God  for  my  helper." 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  57 

On  November  20th,  the  new  Sovereign  held  her 
first  Privy  Council  at  Hatfield.  She  showed  her 
good  sense  in  the  choice  of  her  Councillors ;  retain- 
ing from  her  sister's  Cabinet  the  Lord  Howard  of 
Effingham  as  Lord  Chamberlain,  and  eleven  other 
Catholics.  This  wise  measure  enlisted  upon  her 
side  many  of  that  religion  who  might  otherwise 
have  opposed  her.  She  also  included  among  her 
advisors  seven  Protestants,  all  men  of  wisdom  and 
judgment  and  heartily  devoted  to  her.  Chief 
among  these  were  William  Cecil,  who  had  also 
been  Secretary  to  Her  Majesty's  brother,  King 
Edward  VI,  and  whom  she,  later,  created  Lord 
Burleigh,  and  Nicholas  Bacon,  who  was  appointed 
Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal.  The  political  tie  be- 
tween the  sagacious  statesman,  Cecil,  and  his 
Queen  was  not  severed,  though  at  times  strained, 
until  the  death  of  the  former,  which  was  a  bitter 
grief  to  the  Royal  Mistress  he  had  served  so  faith- 
fully throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  long  life. 

On  his  installation  into  the  Council,  Elizabeth 
addressed  to  him  the  following  instructions :  "  I 
give  you  this  charge  that  you  shall  be  of  my  Privy 
Council,  and  content  yourself  to  take  pains  for  me 
and  my  Realm.  This  judgment  I  have  of  you  that 
you  will  not  be  corrupted  by  any  manner  of  gift, 
and  that  you  will  be  faithful  to  the  State,  and  that, 
without  respect  to  my  private  will,  you  will  give  me 
that  counsel  which  you  think  best,  and  if  you  shall 
know  anything  to  be  declared  to  me  of  secrecy, 
you  shall  show  it  to  myself  only,  and  assure  your- 


58  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

self  I  will  not  fail  to  keep  taciturnity  therein  and 
therefore  herewith  I  charge  you." 

That  very  day  Her  Majesty  accepted  his  advice 
on  some  important  matters  and  appointed  him  the 
principal  Secretary  of  State. 

IThe  first  act  of  the  new  Sovereign  was  the  resto- 
ration of  the  Protestant  religion  in  whose  tenets 
she  had  been  brought  up.  But  she  resolved  to 
proceed  gradually,  though  none  the  less  securely, 
and  determined  not  to  imitate  the  violent  and 
fanatic  example  set  her  by  Mary  in  changing  the 
State  religion.  She  recalled  all  the  exiles  and 
freed  all  the  prisoners  detained  on  account  of  re- 
ligion. A  certain  Rainsford  jestingly  told  the 
Queen  that  he  had  a  petition  to  present  to  her  in 
behalf  of  other  prisoners,  namely,  Matthew,  Mark, 
Luke  and  John.  She  instantly  answered  in  the 
same  merry  strain  that  she  must  first  consult  the 
prisoners  themselves  and  learn  from  them  if  they 
desired  that  liberty  which  he  asked  for  them. 

The  Church  she  established  was  midway  between 
the  Roman  Catholic  and  extreme  Protestant.  She 
did  not  inquire  nor  probe  into  the  consciences  of 
her  subjects,  as  had  been  done  in  the  preceding 
reign;  but  merely  demanded  outward  conformity 
to  the  Church  of  which  she  was  the  head  in  Eng- 
land, requiring,  simply,  attendance  at  service  once 
a  week,  under  penalty  of  a  fine.  As  a  consequence 
of  this  moderation  in  an  age  where  toleration  was 
seldom  practised  and  almost  unknown,  there  was 
little  religious  discontent  among  her  subjects. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  59 

Immediately  upon  the  proclaiming  of  Elizabeth, 
her  brother-in-law,  the  King  of  Spain,  realizing 
that  by  the  death  of  Queen  Mary  he  would  lose 
his  authority  over  England,  sent  to  the  new  Sov- 
ereign an  offer  of  marriage,  provided  she  would 
uphold  the  Catholic  religion.  He  never  dreamed 
of  the  possibility  of  her  refusing  his  offer,  for  he 
held  the  universal  opinion  that  without  his  pro- 
tection she  could  not  maintain  her  Throne  against 
a  French  invasion  in  the  interests  of  the  Queen  of 
Scots.  For  the  French  King,  by  the  marriage  of 
the  Dauphin  to  Mary  Stuart,  intended  to  unite 
the  Crowns  of  England  and  Scotland  and  ulti- 
mately annex  them  to  France.  But  Queen  Eliza- 
beth shrewdly  surmised  that  Philip  of  Spain's  own 
interests  would  force  him  to  prevent  the  carrying 
out  of  the  French  King's  scheme,  and  she  had  no 
intention  of  becoming  dependent  upon  her  ugly, 
domineering,  little  brother-in-law.  After  consid- 
erable fencing,  she  replied  that  she  intended  to 
remain  unmarried,  and  that  she  did  not  fear 
France. 

A  month  after  her  accession,  the  Spanish  Am- 
bassador wrote  to  his  master :  "  She  orders  and 
does  what  pleases  her  as  absolutely  as  did  her 
father,  Henry  VIII." 

It  was  deemed  expedient  that  the  Coronation  take 
place  as  soon  as  possible,  in  order  that  Elizabeth 
might  have  the  allegiance  of  the  whole  country, 
Catholics  as  well  as  Protestants.  It  was  very  diffi- 
cult to  find  an  ecclesiastic  to  perform  this  cere- 


60  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

mony,  as  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  dead, 
and  the  next  dignitary  in  order  of  rank,  the  Arch- 
bishop of  York,  refused  to  crown  her  as  supreme 
head  of  the  church ;  the  remaining  Catholic  Bishops 
refused  to  perform  the  function  and  also  to  con- 
secrate any  Protestant  Bishops.  Finally,  at  the 
last  moment  a  compromise  was  reached,  whereby 
Dr.  Oglethorpe,  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  and  also  the 
presiding  Bishop  at  the  Royal  Chapel  promised  to 
set  the  crown  on  the  Queen's  head  if  she  would  take 
the  same  oath  that  Catholic  Sovereigns  took.  As 
there  seemed  to  be  no  choice  in  the  matter,  Eliza- 
beth consented  and  preparations  were  hurriedly 
made  for  the  ceremony. 

The  Catholic  Peers,  who  but  lately  had  been  her 
bitterest  foes,  paid  humble  and  flattering  submis- 
sion to  Queen  Elizabeth  as  their  Liege  Lady.  Her 
Majesty  exhibited  a  large-souled  magnanimity  in 
her  treatment  of  these  former  relentless  persecu- 
tors of  hers  who  had  so  ardently  thirsted  to  shed 
her  Royal  blood.  Her  manner  toward  them  was 
gracious  and  she  showed  herself  great  enough  to 
be  able  to  overlook  the  insults  and  injuries  heaped 
upon  her  defenceless  head  when  she  was  only  a 
Princess.  It  would  seem  that  these  men  them- 
selves must  have  been  surprised  at  this  clemency, 
which  they  certainly  had  no  right  to  expect  from 
one  whose  life  they  had  sought  with  untiring  zeal. 

But,  although  Her  Majesty  could  forget  the 
injuries  done  to  the  Princess  Elizabeth,  sjpe  did 
not  forget  the  few  scant  favours;  and,  in  due 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

time,  rewarded  all  those  who  had  served  her.  Dur- 
ing her  entire  imprisonment,  Sir  William  Cecil  was 
working  constantly,  and  as  persistently  as  he 
dared,  to  alleviate  her  sufferings  and  procure  her 
freedom.  He,  as  has  been  seen,  received  a  fitting 
recompense.  Thus  Elizabeth  remembered  and 
kept  near  her  Court  those  who  had  shown  them- 
selves faithful  friends  in  the  dark  days  of  un- 
certainty and  danger  before  her  accession. 

On  Wednesday,  November  23,  Her  Majesty  re- 
moved from  Hatfield  to  Charter  House  in  London 
where  she  was  entertained  for  a  few  days  by  Lord 
North. 

On  Monday,  the  28th,  Queen  Elizabeth  rode  from 
Lord  North's  to  make  her  formal  entrance  into 
the  Tower.  All  the  streets  through  which  the 
Royal  train  was  to  pass  were  newly  graveled,  bands 
of  musicians,  gaily  decorated  arches,  banners  and 
flags  were  stationed  along  the  way.  Vast  throngs 
of  people  crowded  the  streets,  waving  their  hand- 
kerchiefs and  shouting  with  joy.  First  in  the 
Royal  cortege  came  the  heralds,  clad  in  magnificent 
vestments  loaded  with  gold  and  silver  lace,  then 
the  gentlemen,  Knights  and  Nobles,  all  in  gorgeous 
array,  then  the  Lord  Mayor,  holding  the  sceptre, 
and  after  him  rode  Her  Majesty,  appareled  in 
purple  velvet,  with  a  scarf  of  gold  lace  about  her 
neck.  She  was  mounted  on  a  handsome  charger 
trapped  with  crimson  velvet ;  behind  her  rode  Lord 
Robert  Dudley,  recently  made  her  Master  of  the 
Horse,  and  after  him  came  the  Guard  carrying 


62  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

their  halberds.  As  the  splendid  cavalcade  set 
forth  from  Lord  North's,  the  artillery  in  the  great 
fortress  was  shot  off  and  kept  up  a  continuous 
booming  for  over  half  an  hour. 

As  the  Queen  entered  the  Tower,  not  through 
the  Traitor's  Gate  this  time,  but  through  the 
grand  State  entrance,  she  turned  to  her  retinue 
and  said,  with  grave  intonation:  "  Some  have 
fallen  from  being  Princes  of  this  land  to  be  pris- 
oners in  this  place.  I  am  raised  from  being  pris- 
oner in  this  place  to  be  Prince  of  this  land.  That 
dejection  was  a  work  of  God's  justice;  this  ad- 
vancement is  a  work  of  his  mercy ;  as  they  were  to 
yield  patience  for  the  one,  so  I  must  bear  myself 
to  God  thankful,  and  to  men  merciful  for  the 
other." 

When  Queen  Elizabeth  reached  the  Royal  apart- 
ments, she  fell  on  her  knees,  saying,  "  Oh,  Lord, 
almighty  and  everlasting  God,  I  give  thee  most 
hearty  thanks  that  thou  hast  been  so  merciful 
unto  me  as  to  spare  me  to  behold  this  j  oy f ul  day ; 
and  I  acknowledge  that  thou  hast  dealt  as  wonder- 
fully and  as  mercifully  with  me  as  thou  didst  with 
thy  true  and  faithful  servant,  Daniel,  thy  prophet, 
whom  thou  didst  deliver  out  of  the  den  from  the 
cruelty  of  greedy  and  raging  lions.  Even  so  was  1 
I  overwhelmed,  and  only  by  thee  delivered.  To 
thee,  therefore,  only  be  thanks,  honour,  and  praise 
forever.  Amen." 


VI 

THE  ROYAL  PROGRESS  ON  THE  DAY 
BEFORE  THE  CORONATION 

On  Saturday,  January  14«,  1558,  about  two 
o'clock,  Queen  Elizabeth,  accompanied  by  a  train 
of  Lords  and  Ladies,  richly  attired,  rode  from  the 
Tower  of  London  through  the  city  toward  West- 
minster. The  vast  concourse  of  people  gathered 
in  the  streets  expressed  their  great  joy  and  devo- 
tion by  welcoming  shouts,  prayers,  and  loving 
words. 

The  Queen  smiled  graciously  upon  those  at  a 
distance  from  her,  and  made  affable  and  gentle 
answers  to  those  that  stood  near.  To  the  ones 
that  cried,  "  God  save  Her  Grace !  "  she  replied, 
"God  save  you  all!" 

On  every  side  her  subjects  testified  their  loyal 
and  loving  attachment  to  her  and  their  great  de- 
light at  her  accession.  She  accepted  gratefully 
the  offerings  of  flowers  and  the  like  given  by  even 
the  lowliest  of  her  people,  and  often  stopped  her 
chariot  to  listen  to  private  requests.  A  poorly 
clad  woman  handed  her  a  branch  of  rosemary  which 
the  Queen  set  up  high  in  her  chariot,  and  kept  there 
throughout  her  whole  journey  to  Westminster. 

63 


64  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Thus,  amid  the  joyful  acclamations  of  her  sub- 
jects, Elizabeth  passed  on  to  Fenchurch,  where 
a  platform  richly  decorated  was  erected.  A  child 
stood  upon  it  to  welcome  Her  Majesty  in  the  name 
of  the  city.  As  the  child  began  his  speech,  the 
first  line  of  which  ran,  "  O  peerless  Sovereign 
Queen,"  Elizabeth  ordered  the  chariot  to  halt  that 
she  might  hear  the  words  plainly.  At  the  last 
line,  "  God  thee  preserve,  we  pray,  and  wish 
thee  ever  well,"  the  people  raised  a  great  cheer- 
ing. 

The  Queen  gave  the  city  gracious  thanks  for 
their  good  wishes,  and  was  visibly  touched  by  the 
loving  speech  of  the  little  child. 

From  here  she  rode  on  to  Gracechurch  Street, 
where  another  stage  was  set  up,  extending  across 
the  street  from  one  side  to  the  other.  On  the 
lowest  level  was  a  royal  throne  upon  which  were 
figures  representing  Henry  VII  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  of  York.  Over  the  head  of  the  former 
appeared  a  red  rose,  the  emblem  of  the  House  of 
Lancaster,  and  over  the  latter  the  white  rose,  the 
symbol  of  the  House  of  York.  The  hands  of 
the  figures  were  joined  to  represent  the  union  of 
these  two  rival  houses. 

Branches  from  these  roses  led  up  to  a  second 
platform  on  which  sat  a  representation  of  Henry 
VIII  and  his  second  wife,  the  Lady  Anne  Boleyn, 
mother  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

From  this  stage  a  branch  went  up  to  the  third 
tier  on  which  was  a  throne  with  a  personage  sit- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  65 

ting  there  representing  Elizabeth  herself,  crowned 
and  royally  appareled. 

As  the  train  of  Her  Majesty  drew  near,  a  child 
stepped  forward  on  the  platform  to  explain  the 
meaning  of  the  pageant.  But  the  noise  from  the 
multitude  of  spectators  was  so  loud  that  the  Queen 
could  not  hear  the  child  distinctly,  nor  see  the 
figures  clearly.  When  the  meaning  was  finally  ex- 
plained to  her,  she  ordered  her  chariot  to  be  driven 
back  that  she  might  have  a  good  view  of  the  exhi- 
bition. Then  again  she  thanked  the  city  in  her 
most  courteous  manner. 

Thence  she  rode  on  toward  Cornhill,  still  ac- 
companied by  the  loyal  shouts  of  the  people.  The 
next  pageant  was  called  "  The  Seat  of  Worthy 
Governance,"  and  upon  the  chair  was  a  child,  rep- 
resenting the  Queen's  person.  The  throne  was  built 
in  such  a  way  that  it  seemed  to  be  supported  by 
the  four  virtues,  Pure  Religion,  Love  of  Subjects, 
Wisdom  and  Justice,  who  were  treading  under 
their  feet  the  corresponding  vices  respectively,  Ig- 
norance and  Superstition,  Rebellion  and  Insolency, 
Folly  and  Vainglory,  Adulation  and  Bribery. 
Each  of  the  figures  portraying  these  qualities  had 
their  names  plainly  written  on  their  breasts.  The 
title  of  the  pageant  was  set  forth  in  a  wreath  in 
front  of  the  platform.  There  was  a  band  of  mu- 
sicians above  the  two  sides,  who  began  to  play  after 
a  child  had  finished  explaining  the  show.  The 
theme  of  this  was  that  Her  Majesty  would  sit 
firmly  on  her  throne  so  long  as  she  upheld  the  vir- 


66  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

tues  and  put  down  their  opposing  vices.  Eliza- 
beth gave  hearty  thanks  for  this  pageant  and 
promised  to  make  her  seat  secure  by  the  means 
suggested. 

The  next  pageant  was  that  of  the  eight  Beati- 
tudes. Children  represented  the  blessings,  and 
one  child  as  before,  explained  the  meaning  to  the 
Sovereign.  All  these  eight  Beatitudes  were  ap- 
plied to  the  Queen,  who  received  this  flattery  most 
graciously  and  listened  very  attentively  to  the 
explanatory  speech,  after  which  she  gently  thanked 
the  people  for  their  pretty  compliment. 

At  Cheapside  was  a  pageant  signifying  Time. 
"Time!"  said  Her  Majesty,  "and  time  hath 
brought  me  hither !  " 

In  the  opening  address,  the  Queen  was  told  that 
a  Bible  in  English  would  be  presented  to  her  later 
on  by  a  child  portraying  truth.  She  seemed  much 
pleased  and  said  she  should  often  read  it.  So  she 
passed  on  through  the  city  to  the  upper  end  of 
Cheapside. 

Here  the  Recorder  of  the  city  gave  her  a  purse 
of  crimson  satin  embroidered  with  gold,  and  con- 
taining a  thousand  marks. 

Elizabeth  lifted  it  into  the  chariot  with  both 
hands,  for  it  was  very  heavy,  and  then  said,  "I 
thank  my  Lord  Mayor,  his  brethren,  and  you  all ! 
And  whereas  your  request  is  that  I  should  con- 
tinue your  good  Lady  and  Queen,  be  ye  ensured 
that  I  will  be  as  good  unto  you  as  ever  Queen  was  to 
her  people.  No  will  in  me  can  lack,  neither  do  I 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  67 

trust,  shall  there  lack  any  power!  And  persuade 
yourselves  that  for  the  safety  and  quietness  of 
you  all,  I  will  not  spare,  if  need  be,  to  shed  my 
blood !  God  thank  you  all !  " 

This  right  royal  speech  caused  a  great  shout 
of  rejoicing  to  arise,  all  hearts  beat  high  with 
devotion  for  their  "  Sovereign  Ladye  deare." 
And  so  Her  Majesty,  amid  the  unceasing  acclama- 
tions, continued  on  her  journey  until  she  came  to 
the  next  pageant,  fashioned  in  two  tiers. 

On  one  level  was  the  representation  of  a  dead 
tree,  its  branches  all  withered,  and  at  its  foot  the 
effigy  of  a  poorly-clad  man,  of  forlorn  and  dejected 
appearance.  Over  his  head  was  written : 

Ruinosa   Respublica 

A  Decayed  Commonweal. 

On  the  second  tier  was  another  tree,  flourishing 
and  bearing  fruit.  Under  this  stood  a  vigourous- 
looking  personage,  and  over  his  head  was  written, 

Respublica   Bene   Instituta 
A  Flourishing  Commonweal. 

An  old  man,  portraying  Father  Time,  came  out 
of  a  cave  between  these  two  stages  as  the  Queen 
approached.  He  led  by  the  hand  a  female  figure 
splendidly  attired.  She  represented  the  Daugh- 
ter of  Time,  and  on  her  breast  was  her  name, 
Veritas,  truth.  In  her  hand  she  carried  a  book, 


68  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Verbum  Veritatis,  the  Word  of  Truth.  After  she 
had  expounded  the  meaning  of  this  pageant  to  Her 
Majesty  she  handed  the  Bible,  the  Word  of  Truth, 
to  the  Queen,  who  received  it,  kissed  it,  and  laid  it 
upon  her  breast,  again  promising  to  read  it  fre- 
quently, and  always  to  hold  it  most  dear. 

At  St.  Paul's  School  a  child,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  master,  delivered  an  oration  in 
Latin  to  which  the  Sovereign  listened  with  great 
attention.  Then  the  child  kissed  the  paper  on 
which  the  speech  was  written  and  handed  it  to  her. 

Some  one  of  the  Royal  train  near  the  person  of 
the  Queen  remarked  what  an  expense  the  city  had 
gone  to  in  preparing  these  exhibitions,  and  Eliza- 
beth replied  that  "  she  did  well  consider  the  same 
and  should  remember  it." 

The  fifth  pageant  was  a  stage  with  four  towers 
and  a  square  platform  of  gradually  ascending 
height.  At  the  very  top  was  a  throne  with  a  tall 
palm-tree  behind.  On  the  chair  was  a  personage 
attired  as  a  Queen,  with  crown  and  sceptre,  and 
on  a  tablet  above  her  head  was  written,  "  Deborah, 
The  Judge  and  Restorer  of  Israel."  On  the  lower 
tiers  of  the  stage,  were  six  persons  portraying  the 
nobility,  clergy  and  common  people.  A  child  came 
forward  at  the  lowest  end  of  the  platform,  and 
explained  that  the  pageant  represented  Deborah 
consulting  with  the  different  classes  of  her  people 
for  the  welfare  of  Israel,  and  that  the  subjects  of 
Elizabeth  prayed  that  she  would  emulate  the  good 
example  of  the  worthy  Deborah. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  69 

From  here  the  Queen  and  her  party  rode  on 
towards  Temple  Bar.  At  Christ's  Hospital,  a 
school  established  for  charitable  purposes',  the 
children  with  their  teachers  stood  outside  in  a 
group.  As  Her  Majesty  noticed  that  one  of  the 
children  was  about  to  speak,  she  halted  her  chariot 
and  commanded  silence.  The  child  then  spoke  in 
Latin  to  the  effect  that  as  this  institution  had 
been  founded  and  advanced  by  the  Queen's  brother, 
Edward  VI,  they  doubted  not  that  she  too  would 
show  them  clemency  and  kindness,  and  wished  her 
a  long  and  prosperous  reign.  Queen  Elizabeth 
received  the  copy  of  the  oration  with  a  gracious 
smile  from  the  hands  of  the  child  and  promised 
to  relieve  and  aid  them. 

At  Temple  Bar,  which  was  draped  and  festooned 
in  honour  of  Her  Majesty,  stood  two  gigantic  fig- 
ures representing  Gotmagot,  the  Albion,  and 
Corineus,  the  Briton.  They  held  in  their  hands  a 
tablet  on  which  was  written  in  Latin  and  English 
a  description  of  all  the  pageants  prepared,  to- 
gether with  their  meaning.  On  the  south  side  of 
Fleet  Street  was  a  group  of  children  singing,  and 
one  of  them  dressed,  as  a  poet,  delivered  some  fare- 
well verses  to  the  Queen  in  the  name  of  the  whole 
city. 

In  these  lines  were  expressed  wishes  that  she 
would  reign  worthily  and  trample  all  vices  under 
foot.  Several  times  during  the  speech,  Her  Maj- 
esty raised  her  hands  to  Heaven  and  bade  the 
people  say  "  Amen  "  J 


70  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address  she  said,  "  Be 
ye  well  assured,  I  will  stand  your  good  Queen !  " 

Then  she  passed  on  through  Temple  Bar  to 
Westminster,  followed  by  the  shouts  of  her  sub- 
jects and  the  firing  of  the  ordnance  guns.  Thus 
the  Royal  Elizabeth  rode  proudly  on  through  her 
loyal  city  of  London,  whose  people  were  full  of 
delirious  joy  at  her  accession,  which  had  been  so 
long  and  ardently  desired. 


VII 
THE  CORONATION 

On  Sunday,  January  15th,  Queen  Elizabeth,  in 
the  presence  of  a  great  company  of  high  dignita- 
ries, Lords  and  Ladies,  was  crowned  at  West- 
minster Abbey  by  Dr.  Oglethorpe,  Bishop  of  Car- 
lisle. Her  Majesty  partook  first  of  a  regal 
banquet  in  Westminster  Hall,  which  was  richly 
hung  and  decorated. 

While  the  Sovereign  was  at  dinner,  Sir  Ed- 
ward Dimmocke,  in  a  full  set  of  armour,  rode  into 
the  hall,  mounted  upon  a  handsome  charger 
trapped  with  cloth  of  gold.  lW5e  flung  down  the 
gauntlet,  offering  to  fight  any  one  who  should 
deny  that  Elizabeth  was  lawful  ruler  of  England. 
No  one  accepting  the  challenge,  Her  Majesty  took 
a  gold  cup  filled  with  wine,  and,  after  touching 
her  lips  to  it,  passed  it  to  the  knight  as  his  fee. 
Then  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  filled  another 
cup  ano!  carried  it  to  the  Queen,  who,  after  going 
through  the  same  ceremony  as  before,  returned 
the  cup  to  the  Mayor  as  his  fee. 

The  banquet  finished,   Her  Highness  took  her 

seat  upon  a  chair  of  State  placed  in  front  of  the 

71 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

high  altar.  After  she  had  been  proclaimed  Queen 
of  England  at  four  different  places  by  a  Bishop, 
the  trumpets  sounding  loudly  at  each  proclama- 
tion and  mingling  with  the  acclamations  of  the 
spectators,  she  arose  from  her  chair,  and  kneeling 
before  the  Bishop,  made  an  offering  which  he 
placed  in  a  golden  basin.  Then  she  returned  to 
her  seat  under  the  canopy  and  listened  to  a  long 
sermon  delivered  from  the  pulpit.  At  the  close 
of  this,  Her  Majesty  knelt  by  the  chair  and  said 
the  Lord's  Prayer.  Upon  rising,  the  Bishop  pre- 
sented to  her  a  book  on  which  she  took  her  oath 
of  office.  After  the  Bishop  had  read  passages 
from  various  books,  the  Queen  retired  to  change 
her  attire. 

A  magnificent  carpet  covered  with  cushions  of 
gold  was  now  spread  before  the  altar,  the  Bishop 
standing  at  the  left  side. 

Elizabeth,  having  put  on  more  elaborate  apparel, 
now  entered,  all  the  majesty  of  her  high  position 
reflected  on  her  fair,  proud  face.  She  wore  "  a 
mantle  of  cloth  of  gold,  tissued  with  gold  and 
silver,  furred  with  powdered  armyons  (ermines?) 
with  lace  of  silk  and  gold,  with  buttons  and  tassels 
to  the  same."  Under  the  mantle  was  "  a  kirtle 
of  the  same  tissue,  the  train  and  skirts  furred  with 
powdered  armyons,  the  rest  lined  with  sarcenet, 
with  a  bodice  and  sleeves  to  the  same." 

As  she  knelt  before  the  altar,  on  the  golden 
cushions,  a  red  silk  robe  was  spread  over  her. 
When  the  Bishop  had  solemnly  anointed  her,  a 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  73 

sword  with  a  girdle  was  put  upon  one  of  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  Maiden  Monarch  and  another  under 
her  other  shoulder,! While  two  richly  embroidered 
garters  were  placed  Vipon  her  wrists  and  a  third 
sword  was  hung  by  her  side. 

The  trumpets  sent  forth  a  triumphant  blast 
and  the  historic  old  Abbey  resounded  with  shouts 
of  "  Long  live  Queen  Elizabeth !  "  as  the  crown 
was  placed  on  her  head.  Directly  after  this,  the 
Bishop  slipped  a  plain  gold  ring  upon  her  finger 
in  token  of  her  marriage  and  the  consecration  of 
her  life  to  the  Kingdom  of  England ;  at  the  same 
time  the  sceptre,  was  delivered  into  her  hand. 
After  this,  Her  Majesty,  still  kneeling,  laid  the 
sword  of  State  upon  the  altar.  When  the  Bishop 
had  read  a  few  more  passages,  the  Queen  again 
took  her  seat  upon  the  throne.  Then,  first  the 
Lords  and  next  the  Bishops,  going  up  to  the  Sov- 
ereign, knelt  before  her  and  kissed  her  on  the 
left  cheek,  according  to  the  Coronation  custom. 
This  ceremony  over,  Mass  was  said,  Her  Majesty 
holding  in  her  right  hand  the  sceptre,  in  her  left 
the  mound  or  globe  of  the  world.  The  Gospel  was 
read  first  in  Latin  and  then  in  English,  after  which 
she  kissed  the  book. 

As  Queen  Elizabeth  again  knelt  before  the  altar 
and  made  a  second  offering,  three  naked  swords 
and  one  in  the  scabbard  were  held  before  her. 
When  Mass  was  finished,  Her  Majesty,  retiring 
behind  the  high  altar,  divested  herself  of  her  Cor- 
onation robes,  and  then,  followed  by  her  retinue, 


74  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

set  out  for  Westminster  Hall,  where  another  ban- 
quet was  prepared. 

On  the  next  day,  jousts  and  tournaments  were 
given  in  honour  of  the  Coronation.  On  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  the  month  was  held  the  first  Parliament, 
the  Queen  riding  to  it  in  all  the  splendour  of  her 
Parliamentary  robes,  attended  by  the  Lords,  spir- 
itual and  temporal,  likewise  in  their  State  array. 

Her  Majesty's  costume  consisted  of  "  a  mantle 
of  crimson  velvet,  furred  throughout  with  pow- 
dered armyons,  the  lace  on  the  mantle  being  of 
silk  and  gold,  covered  with  buttons  and  tassels. 
The  kirtle  and  surcoat  were  also  of  crimson  velvet, 
with  a  train  and  skirts  of  the  same  material,  furred 
with  powdered  armyons.  The  rest  was  lined  with 
sarcenet.  The  silken  cap  was  striped  down  with 
passamaine  lace  of  gold  from  which  hung  down 
golden  tassels ;  this,  too,  was  furred  with  powdered 
armyons,  as  were  likewise  the  hood,  bodice  and 
sleeves,  all  of  crimson  velvet." 

The  Parliament  was  opened  by  a  unanimous  dec- 
laration that  "  Queen  Elizabeth  was,  and  ought 
to  be,  as  well  by  the  word  of  God,  as  the  common 
and  statute  laws  of  the  Realm,  the  lawful,  un- 
doubted, and  true  heir  to  the  Crown,  lawfully 
descended  from  the  Blood  Royal,  according  to  the 
order  of  succession  settled  in  the  thirty-fifth  of 
Henry  VIII." 

.Just  before  the  dissolving  of  the  Parliament, 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  together 
with  some  other  members,  came  forward,  and  kneel- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  75 

ing  before  the  Queen,  in  deferential  and  humble 
manner,  entreated  her  to  marry  in  order  that  the 
succession " might i  be  settled  later  without  dispute 
or 'risk  of  civil  war. 

~"  But  she  answered  that  from  her  earliest  youth 
she  had  resolved  never  to  marry,  for  she  believed 
that  by  remaining  free  from  such  worldly  cares 
she  might  best  perform  to  the  glory  of  God  those 
duties  to  which  she  had  been  appointed.  She  said 
also  that  she  had,  moreover,  given  her  hand  in 
wedlock  to  a  husband,  and  he  was  the  Kingdom  of 
England.  Then  she  showed  them  the  wedding 
ring  which  she  had  placed  upon  her  finger  at  the 
Coronation,  and  added,  "  As  many  as  are  English- 
men are  children  and  kinsmen  to  me."  She  prom- 
ised, however,  that  if  she  ever  did  take  a  husband 
he  should  be  one  approved  by  her  people.  She 
concluded  her  speech,  saying,  "  To .  me  it  shall 
be  a  full  satisfaction,  both  for  the  memorial  of  my 
name  and  for  my  glory  also,  if,  when  I  shall  let 
my  last  breath,  it  be  engraven  upon  my  marble 
tomb,  6  Here  lyeth  Elizabeth,  which  reigned  a  Vir- 
gin and  died  a  Virgin.'  " 


VIII 

THE  RECEPTION  TO  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 
AT  CAMBRIDGE  UNIVERSITY 

On  the  12th  of  July,  1564,  the  Vice-Chancellor 
of  Cambridge  University  received  a  letter  from 
Sir  William  Cecil,  the  Chancellor  of  this  institu- 
tion as  well  as  Secretary  of  State,  announcing  that 
Queen  Elizabeth  intended  to  visit  the  university 
and  remain  there  three  days,  the  8th,  9th  and 
10th  of  August.  The  secretary  also  sent  instruc- 
tions to  arrange  suitable  lodgings  for  Her  Majesty 
and  to  prepare  some  entertainment. 

Thereupon  the  Proctors  of  the  establishment, 
consulting  with  Cecil  himself,  the  Bishop  of  London 
and  others,  planned  an  imposing  entertainment  for 
the  Sovereign.  They  were  further  encouraged  in 
their  preparations  by  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from 
Lord  Robert  Dudley,  afterward  the  celebrated 
Earl  of  Leicester,  assuring  them  that  all  their  ex- 
ercises for  the  Queen's  diversion  would  be  accepted 
in  good  grace  by  her. 

Elizabeth  decided  to  arrive  on  Saturday,  August 
5th,  and  that  day  the  bells  of  the  colleges  and  of 
the  town  were  rung  most  of  the  afternoon. 

Her  Majesty  proceeded  from  a  Mr.  Worthing- 
76 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  77 

ton's  house  in  Haslingfield,  where  she  had  passed 
the  night.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  Earl  of 
Sussex,  the  Bishop  of  Ely  and  other  Nobles  met 
her  on  the  way  and  accompanied  her  to  the  town 
of  Cambridge. 

Robert  Lane,  the  Mayor  of  the  town,  the  Alder- 
men, Burgesses  and  Recorder,  all  on  horseback,  met 
the  Royal  party  at  Newnham.  There  they 
alighted,  paid  their  respects,  and  the  Recorder 
delivered  a  speech  in  English.  Next  the  Mayor 
passed  his  mace,  together  with  a  costly  cup,  to  Her 
Majesty,  which  she  received  graciously  and  handed 
back  the  mace.  The  cup  she  gave  to  one  of  her 
footmen. 

Then  the  progress  toward  Cambridge  was  con- 
tinued, Robert  Lane  holding  his  mace,  rode 
before  the  Sovereign.  Meanwhile,  Sir  William  Ce- 
cil, mounted  upon  his  horse,  was  waiting  before 
Queen's  College.  The  trumpeters,  with  loud  and 
solemn  blast,  proclaimed  the  approach  of  the  illus- 
trious guest.  After  them  followed  the  Lords  of 
the  Realm,  in  the  order  of  their  rank,  next  the 
Royal  Almoner,  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  bare- 
headed, and  with  him  the  Bishop  of  Ely,  then  the 
Garter  King-at-Arms,  richly  appareled  and  accom- 
panied by  many  Sergeants-at-Arms,  then  Lord 
Hunsdon,  a  cousin  to  the  Sovereign,  carrying  the 
Sword  of  State  in  a  magnificently  wrought  scab- 
bard. After  him  rode  Her  Majesty,  Queen  Eliza-  \ 
beth,  attired  in  "  a  gown  of  black  velvet  pinked,  a  1 
caul  upon  her  head,  set  with  pearls  and  precious 


78  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

\  stones,  and  a  hat  spangled  with  gold  and  a  bush  of 
feathers."  She  was  attended  by  a  great  company 
of  ladies  and  maids  of  honour. 

When  Her  Grace  came  to  the  middle  of  the 
scholars,  two  of  them  stepped  forward,  and  kneel- 
ing before  her,  kissed  the  papers  they  held  and 
passed  them  to  her.  These  were  two  congratu- 
latory orations,  one  in  prose,  the  other  in  verse. 
The  Queen,  after  receiving  them  graciously,  de- 
livered them  to  one  of  her  footmen.  Then  two 
Bachelors  of  Arts  and  two  Masters  of  Arts  came 
forward  and  went  through  the  same  ceremony. 
When  the  Royal  train  came  among  the  Doctors,  the 
Lords  and  Ladies  dismounted,  only  Her  Majesty 
remaining  on  horseback. 

At  the  gate  to  King's  College,  Sir  William  Cecil 
knelt  down  and  made  a  speech  of  welcome.  The 
beadles,  likewise  kneeling,  kissed  their  staffs  and 
handed  them  to  the  Secretary  Cecil,  who  also 
kissed  them  and  then  passed  them  to  the  distin- 
guished visitor,  who  was  unable  to  hold  so  many. 
She,  laughing  merrily,  gave  them  back,  bidding 
the  magistrates  of  the  University  "  minister  jus- 
tice uprightly,  as  she  trusted  they  did,  or  she 
would  take  the  matter  into  her  own  hands  and  see 
to  it " ;  adding  with  another  laugh  that  "  al- 
though the  Chancellor  did  halt  (he  happened  to 
have  a  sore  leg  at  the  time),  yet  she  trusted  that 
justice  did  not  halt." 

Next,  the  Orator  of  the  college  stepped  up,  and 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  79 

making  three  low  bows,  knelt  down  and  delivered 
in  Latin  a  speech  which  lasted  for  nearly  half  an 
hour.  First,  he  praised  many  virtues  in  the  Sov- 
ereign, at  which  she  shook  her  head  and  cried  out, 
"  Non  est  veritas,  et  utinam  —  it  is  not  true, 
would  that — ".  Then  he  spoke  of  the  joy  felt  by 
the  University  at  her  coming. 

When  he  had  finished,  the  Queen  lauded  him 
highly  and  declared  he  must  have  a  remarkable 
memory  to  deliver  such  a  speech,  adding  that 
"  she  would  answer  him  again  in  Latin,  but  for 
fear  she  should  speak  false  Latin;  and  then  they 
would  all  laugh  at  her."  As  a  signal  mark  of  her 
esteem,  she  called  him  to  her  and  gave  him  her 
hand  to  kiss. 

Then  she  alighted  from  her  horse  and  asked  the 
degree  of  every  Doctor  there. 

Four  of  the  principal  Doctors  held  a  canopy 
over  her  as  she  entered  the  church  and  knelt  down 
at  the  altar.  The  Lady  Strange  had  the  honour 
of  carrying  her  train,  and  the  other  ladies  fol- 
lowed, according  to  their  rank. 

The  Provost  made  his  obeisance  with  three  low 
bows  and  inquired  if  Her  Majesty  wished  to  pray 
publicly.  But  as  she  preferred  a  silent  prayer,  he 
did  likewise,  after  which  the  chorus  sang  a  carol 
in  English. 

As  Queen  Elizabeth  took  her  seat  under  the 
canopy,  she  declared  that  this  chapel  was  more 
beautiful  than  any  other  in  the  Kingdom.  This 


80  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

naturally  pleased  her  entertainers,  as  did  her  gra- 
cious and  interested  demeanour  throughout  her  en- 
tire visit. 

After  the  singing  of  the  "  Te  Deum  "  in  English 
Her  Majesty,  with  her  ladies,  retired  to  the  lodg- 
ings prepared  for  her. 

On  the  next  day,  Sunday,  after  the  morning 
prayer,  all  the  Doctors,  in  their  scarlet  gowns, 
stood  at  the  court  gate  to  await  the  coming  of 
the  Queen.  She  went  on  foot  to  church,  preceded 
by  all  the  gentlemen  under  the  degree  of  Knights, 
then  the  Doctors,  the  Knights  and  the  Lords. 
Her  Majesty  said  "  the  sermon  was  the  first  she 
had  ever  heard  in  Latin  and  she  thought  she  should 
never  hear  a  better." 

After  the  evening  prayer,  the  "  Aulularia  "  of 
Plantus  was  presented  upon  a  great  stage,  ex- 
tending from  one  side  of  the  church  to>  the  other. 
Elizabeth,  with  certain  Lords,  Ladies,  gentlewomen 
and  pensioners,  took  her  seat  upon  the  platform 
and  heard  the  play  to  the  end.  The  parts  were 
taken  by  men  chosen  from  the  different  colleges. 

On  Monday,  a  great  debate  on  art  was  held  in 
St.  Mary's  Church.  On  the  east  end  of  the  great 
church  an  ample  space  was  allotted  for  the  august 
visitor.  It  was  hung  with  arras, and  cloth  of  gold, 
in  every  respect  a  regal  bower.  All  the  debaters 
were  to  stand  at  that  part  of  the  stage. 

At  the  ringing  of  the  University  bell  Queen 
Elizabeth  entered,  accompanied  by  her  train  of 
Lords  and  Ladies.  As  she  took  her  seat,  the  grad- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  81 

uates  knelt  and  cried,  "  Vivat  Regina  —  long  live 
the  Queen !  "  She  showed  great  interest  in  all  the 
proceedings  and  asked  many  questions  concerning 
those  taking  part. 

Four  Masters  of  Arts  so  pleased  her  with  their 
orations  that  when  the  Proctors  rather  abruptly 
ended  their  speeches,  she  appeared  much  annoyed, 
frowning  and  saying,  "  if  she  had  the  moderation, 
they  should  not  have  been  so  abridged." 

As  she  could  not  hear  the  Doctors  plainly,  she 
said,  "  Loquimini  altius  —  speak  louder,"  and 
when  that  did  not  avail,  left  her  seat  and  stood 
near  them. 

On  Wednesday,  she  rode  about  to  the  different 
colleges  and  was  received  with  orations  and  gifts 
of  gloves  and  candy.  On  her  progress,  Her  Maj- 
esty talked  with  many  scholars  in  Latin,  and, 
upon  reaching  her  apartments,  dismissed  them  in 
the  same  language. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  entertainment  in  St. 
Mary's  Church  she  was  entreated  by  the  Lords, 
and  in  particular,  by  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  and 
Lord  Robert,  to  address  the  University  in  Latin. 
At  first,  she  refused,  saying  that  "  if  she  might 
speak  her  mind  in  English,  she  would  not  stick 
at  the  matter."  When  Cecil  told  her  that  the 
University  could  not  be  addressed  in  English,  she 
bade  him  speak  as  he  was  "  the  Chancellor  and  the 
Chancellor  is  the  Queen's  mouth."  But  he  re- 
plied that  "  he  was  Chancellor  of  the  University 
and  not  hers." 


82  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Finally,  after  being  urged  on  all  sides,  she 
spoke  at  some  length,  saying  that  her  "  womanly 
modesty  "  was  subdued  by  the  pleading  of  her  No- 
bles and  her  own  affection  for  the  University. 
She  besought  the  scholars  to  continue  their  studies 
diligently  and  promised  to  leave  some  famous 
monument  to  learning  before  she  died. 

The  auditors,  greatly  astonished  and  delighted 
at  the  excellence  of  Her  Majesty's  Latin  and  the 
expression  of  her  good  will  towards  them,  cried 
loudly,  "  Vivat  Regina  —  long  live  the  Queen !  " 
But  Elizabeth,  with  her  usual  quickness,  replied 
"  Taceat  Regina  —  silent  be  the  Queen,"  and 
wished  that  "  all  they  that  heard  her  oration  had 
drunk  of  the  flood  of  Lethe." 

Then  in  a  merry  and  cheerful  mood,  she  took 
her  leave  of  the  company  and  went  to  her  apart- 
ments. 

On  Thursday,  August  10th,  Her  Majesty  de- 
parted from  Cambridge.  About  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning  she  mounted  her  horse  and  was  met 
at  the  gate  of  her  lodging  by  the  Provost  and  some 
of  his  colleagues.  He  made  an  excellent  farewell 
address  which  so  pleased  the  Queen  that  she  openly 
called  him  "  her  scholar,"  and  offered  him  the 
Royal  hand  to  kiss. 

As  she  rode  from  King's  College  past  the  schools, 
Dr.  Perne  and  others  of  the  University  knelt  and 
wished  her  in  Latin  a  safe  and  auspicious  progress. 
She  replied  gently,  "  Valete  omnes  —  good-by  to 
you  all." 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  83 

The  Mayor,  on  horseback,  carrying  his  mace, 
and  followed  by  the  Aldermen,  accompanied  Her 
Grace  toward  Magdalen  College  where  the  Master 
and  students  stood  ready  to  deliver  an  oration. 
But  she  excused  herself  for  not  waiting  to  hear  it, 
pleading  the  heat  of  the  day  and  the  throngs  of 
people  who  were  gathering.  She  asked,  however, 
for  the  paper  on  which  it  was  written,  and  then 
rode  away,  blessed  by  the  prayers  and  good  wishes 
of  all. 


IX 

ANECDOTES  OF  THE  QUEEN  AND  HER 
COURTIERS 

Conspicuous  among  the  brilliant  throng  of 
courtiers  who  surrounded  the  Virgin  Queen,  was 
Lord  Robert  Dudley,  son  of  the  once  all-powerful 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  who,  in  the  beginning 
of  Mary's  reign,  atoned  on  the  scaffold  for  his 
treasonable  ambitions.  Lord  Robert  was  said  to 
have  been  born  in  the  same  hour  with  Elizabeth, 
and  was  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower  at  the  same  time 
she  was.  He  was  married  to  a  wealthy  heiress, 
Amy  Robsart,  whom  he  had  wedded  with  great 
publicity  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  The  Lady 
Amy,  however,  was  kept  in  seclusion  by  her  Lord 
and  was  never  seen  at  Court. 

Soon  after  her  accession,  Queen  Elizabeth  made 
the  handsome  Dudley  her  Master  of  the  Horse 
and  for  many  years  he  stood  high  in  royal  favour. 
But  it  is  not  likely  that  Her  Majesty  entertained 
any  feeling  stronger  than  friendly  regard  for  her 
proud  favourite.  She  made  no  secret  of  her  liking 
for  good-looking  young  men  and  her  dislike  for 
homely  ones.  The  ardent  admiration  Dudley  pro- 
fessed for  her  was  flattering  to  the  woman  and 

84 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  85 

gratifying  to  the  Sovereign.  Edward  Spencer 
Beesly  says :  "  Elizabeth,  it  is  my  firm  convic- 
tion, never  loved  Dudley,  or  any  other  man,  in  any 
sense  of  the  word,  high  or  low.  She  had  neither  a 
tender  heart  nor  a  sensual  temperament.  Further, 
she  believed  that  his  devotion  to  her  person  would 
make  him  a  specially  faithful  servant.  I  do  not 
doubt  that  Elizabeth  estimated  his  capacity  at 
about  its  right  value.  What  she  over-estimated 
was  his  affection  for  herself  and  consequently  his 
trustworthiness." 

In  1560  Lady  Dudley  died  at  Cumnor  Hall  un- 
der  suspicious    circumstances,   and   Lord   Robert 
was  suspected  of  having  caused  her  death,  although 
there  was  not  a  particle  of  evidence  to  prove  it. 
It  was  now  feared  by  many  that  the  Queen  would 
marry   the   dashing   and   ambitious   widower,   de- 
scribed by  Naunton  as  being  of  "  a  very  goodly 
person,  tall,  and  singularly  well  favoured,  but  who, 
toward  middle  age,  grew  red-faced  and  corpulent." 
.This  belief  became  so  widespread  that  the  English 
/Ambassador  in   France  wrote  Her  Majesty  that 
j  "  he  had  heard  reported  at  Duke  Montmorance's 
\  table  that  the  Queen  of  England  had  a  meaning  to 
\marry  her  horse-keeper."     Even  the  prudent  Ce- 
cil ventured  a  jesting  reproof  to  the  Queen  on  this 
subject,  when  he  was  telling  her  of  the  mesalliance 
of  her  own  cousin,  the  Duchess  of  Suffolk,  with  her 
equerry.     "  What ! "    cried    Queen    Elizabeth,    in 
amazement,  "  has  she  married  her  horse-keeper?  " 
"  Yea,  Madam,"  replied  the  Councillor,  "  and  she 


86  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

says  you  would  like  to  do  the  same  with  yours." 
Shortly  after  this  the  English  Queen  recom- 
mended Dudley  as  a  husband  to  the  Queen  of 
Scots,  promising  Mary  that  if  she  would  marry 
him  she  should  by  Act  of  Parliament  be  declared 
heir  to  the  Throne.  Elizabeth  then  created  Dud- 
ley Baron  of  Denbigh,  and  on  the  day  after,  Earl 
of  Leicester  at  Westminster,  in  the  presence  of 
Sir  James  Melville,  the  Scottish  Ambassador.  Her 
Majesty  helped  to  put  on  his  ceremonial  robes, 
according  to  Melville,  and,  as  he  knelt  in  solemn 
state  before  her,  placed  her  hand  under  his  chin 
and  asked  Melville  how  he  liked  him. 

After  Dudley  was  made  a  belted  Earl,  Queen 
Elizabeth  took  the  Scottish  Ambassador  up  to  her 
chamber  and  opened  a  little  desk  "  where  there  were 
divers  little  pictures  wrapped  up  in  paper,  their 
names  written  with  her  own  hand.  Upon  the  first 
she  took  up  was  written,  '  My  Lord's  picture.' 
This  was  Leicester's  portrait.  I  held  the  candle, 
and  pressed  to  see  my  Lord's  picture.  Albeit  she 
was  loth  to  let  me  see  it,  but  I  became  importunate 
for  it  to  carry  home  to  my  Queen ;  she  refused,  say- 
ing, '  she  had  but  one  of  his.'  I  replied,  '  she  had 
the  original.'  She  was  then  at  the  farther  end  of 
her  bedchamber  talking  with  Cecil.  Elizabeth 
then  took  out  my  Queen's  miniature  and  kissed 
it,"  writes  Melville  in  his  memoirs. 

Mary,  however,  declined  the  husband  offered  her 
by  the  Maiden  Queen,  and  shortly  after,  married 
Lord  Darnley,  the  young  son  of  the  Countess  of 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  87 

Lennox,  who  was  the  nearest  relative  to  Queen 
Elizabeth  on  the  Royal  Tudor  side. 

Although  Leicester  enjoyed  a  high  degree  of 
royal  favour,  he  was  by  no  means  exempt  from 
sharp  rebukes  from  the  Queen  when  his  overween- 
ing pride  and  arrogance  seemed  to  necessitate  a 
check.  One  day,  Bowyer,  of  the  black  rod,  who 
had  been  commanded  by  Queen  Elizabeth  to  attend 
to  the  admissions  to  the  Privy  Chamber,  prevented 
a  follower  of  Leicester  from  entering,  on  the 
ground  that  he  was  not  known  nor  was  he  a  sworn 
servant  to  the  Queen.  This  man  stood  high  in  the 
esteem  of  the  Earl,  and,  relying  on  his  patron's 
favour  at  Court,  threatened  to  have  Bowyer  dis- 
charged. The  noise  of  this  brawl  reached  the  ears 
of  Leicester,  who  came  up,  and,  when  he  learned 
the  cause,  in  a  loud  voice  called  the  gentleman  of 
the  Black  Rod  a  knave  and  reiterated  his  fol- 
lower's threats  of  having  him  discharged.  He 
then  started  toward  the  Queen,  but  Bowyer  ran 
ahead  of  him,  and,  while  all  present  trembled  at 
his  audacity,  fell  on  his  knees  before  Her  Majesty, 
and,  demanding  to  know  whether  Leicester  were 
King,  or  Elizabeth  Queen,  related  the  whole  story. 

As  he  concluded,  Queen  Elizabeth  sprang  to  her 
feet  with  flashing  eyes  and  threatening  mien,  the 
lion-like  spirit  of  Henry  VIII  thoroughly  aroused 
in  the  breast  of  his  daughter  by  this  affront  to  her 
authority.  Turning  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  she 
cried,  in  loud  and  angry  tones,  "  God's  Death,  my 
Lord,  I  have  wished  you  well,  but  my  favour  is 


88  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

not  so  locked  up  for  you  that  others  shall  not  par- 
take thereof,  for  I  have  many  servants,  unto  whom 
I  have  and  will,  at  my  pleasure,  bequeath  my  fa- 
vour; and  likewise  resume  the  same,  and,  if  you 
think  to  rule  here,  I  will  take  a  course  to  see  you 
forthcoming.  I  will  have  here  but  one  mistress  and 
no  master,  and  look  that  no  ill  happen  to  him,  lest 
it  be  severely  required  at  your  hands." 

"  After  this,"  writes  Naunton,  "  Leicester's 
feigned  humility  was  for  a  long  time  one  of  his 
best  virtues." 

At  the  time  of  the  festivities  at  Kenilworth, 
which  Scott  has  rendered  famous,  the  Earl  was  liv- 
ing in  secret  wedlock  with  Lady  Sheffield,  but  later 
refused  to  acknowledge  her  as  his  wife,  and,  in 
1578,  married  Lettice  Knollys,  the  widow  of  Wal- 
ter Devereux,  Earl  of  Essex.  There  were  suspi- 
cious circumstances  connected  with  the  death  of 
Essex,  which  led  to  the  belief  that  he  was  poisoned. 
As  he  and  Leicester  were  open  enemies,  some  people 
hinted  that  an  attendant  of  Leicester  had  put 
poison  in  his  wine.  Elizabeth  first  learned  of  this 
marriage  through  Simier,  an  agent  of  the  Duke 
of  Alen9on.  Then,  in  a  rage,  she  ordered  Leicester 
to  remain  in  the  Tower  of  Greenwich  until  she  had 
him  conveyed  to  the  Tower  of  London  as  a  pun- 
ishment for  his  audacity  in  marrying  without  her 
consent.  It  was  an  established  rule  under  Eliza- 
beth and  her  predecessors  that  none  of  the  nobility 
could  marry  without  the  consent  of  the  Sovereign. 

The  Earl  of  Sussex,  although  Leicester's  great- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  89 

est  enemy,  dissuaded  the  Queen  from  punishing 
him  further,  for  he  saw  that  it  would  now  be  im- 
possible for  Leicester  to  wed  Her  Majesty,  a  possi- 
bility which  he  and  the  other  Nobles  had  long 
feared.  It  is  reported  that  Leicester  in  revenge 
hired  a  man  to  shoot  at  Simier  while  he  was  in 
the  Royal  barge  with  the  Queen,  the  Earl  of  Lin- 
coln, and  Sir  Christopher  Hatton.  One  of  the 
boatmen  was  shot  through  both  arms  and  fell 
almost  at  Her  Majesty's  feet.  Queen  Elizabeth, 
although  she  believed  the  shot  had  been  aimed  at 
her,  completely  retained  her  presence  of  mind. 
She  took  the  scarf  from  her  neck  and  gave  it  to 
the  boatman  to  bind  up  his  wounds,  bidding  him 
"  be  of  good  cheer,  for  that  he  should  never  want, 
for  the  bullet  was  meant  for  her,  though  it  had 
hit  him."  Her  coolness  and  courage  were  greatly 
admired  by  those  present.  When  the  offender  was 
captured  and  brought  to  trial  he  declared  that 
the  gun  had  gone  off  by  accident.  Upon  hearing 
this,  Queen  Elizabeth  not  only  pardoned  him,  but 
even  interceded  with  his  master  to  retain  him  in 
his  service,  remarking  that  "  she  would  not  believe 
anything  against  her  subjects  that  loving  par- 
ents would  not  believe  of  their  children."  By 
public  proclamation,  however,  she  declared  that 
the  French  Envoys  and  their  servants  were  under 
her  special  protection  and  any  one  molesting  them 
would  do  so  on  peril  of  his  life. 

In  1586  the  Queen,  with  the  approval  of  all  her 
ministers    and,   in    especial,    of   Walsingham,   ap- 


90  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

pointed  Leicester  as  Governor  to  the  revolted 
states  of  Holland,  which  had  appealed  to  her  for 
aid  against  Spain.  He  not  only  paid  all  his  per- 
sonal expenses,  but,  by  mortgaging  his  estates, 
advanced  large  sums  for  military  purposes.  Al- 
though he  made  many  serious  mistakes,  which 
brought  him  into  disfavour  with  all  parties,  they 
were  not  of  a  military  sort.  In  addition  to  this, 
his  assumption  of  royal  dignity  and  his  attempt  to 
hold  a  court  there  that  should  rival  his  Sovereign's, 
so  enraged  Queen  Elizabeth,  when  she  heard  of  his 
arrogant  behaviour,  that  she  cried,  "  I  will  let  the 
upstart  know  how  easily  the  hand  which  has  ex- 
alted him  can  beat  him  down  to  the  dust."  She 
then  sent  him  a  letter  of  sharp  rebuke,  command- 
ing his  instant  return  to  answer  the  articles  of 
impeachment  prepared  against  him  in  England, 
and  did  not  withdraw  her  active  displeasure 
against  him  until  he  had  expressed  the  most  hum- 
ble contrition  for  his  conduct.  Upon  his  hasty 
return,  he  flung  himself  at  her  feet,  and,  with 
tears  in  his  eyes  implored  her  "  not  to  bury  him 
alive  whom  she  had  raised  from  the  dust."  His 
abject  humiliation  so  softened  Queen  Elizabeth 
that  she  forgave  him,  and,  when  he  came  off  tri- 
umphantly at  the  inquiry  conducted  by  the  Coun- 
cil, she  visited  her  displeasure  upon  Lord  Buck- 
hurst  who  had  denounced  him. 

The  last  important  act  of  the  Earl  of  Leices- 
ter was  attending  the  Queen  at  Tilbury  at  the 
time  of  the  Armada  in  August,  1588.  On  Sep- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  91 

tember  4»,  he  died  of  a  fever,  brought  on,  it  was 
said,  by  his  chagrin  at  not  receiving  the  Lord- 
lieutenantship  of  England  and  Ireland,  an  office 
which  the  Queen,  for  a  short  time,  had  con- 
templated bestowing  upon  him.  His  hot  anger 
at  failing  to  obtain  this,  brought  him  into  a 
violent  dispute  with  Queen  Elizabeth.  She  be- 
came so  enraged  with  him  that  she  refused  all 
overtures  of  reconciliation  and  he  left  the  Court  in 
a  fit  of  rage  and  despondency. 

It  is  asserted  by  some  that  his  end  was  hastened 
by  a  draft  of  poison  administered  by  his  wife  and 
that  he  had  intended  this  very  potion  for  her. 

Sir  Richard  Baker  writes  of  him,  "  This  Earl 
was  an  exquisite  statesman  for  his  own  ends.  He 
was  in  so  great  favour  with  the  Queen  that  some 
thought  she  meant  to  marry  him,  yet  when  he 
died,  his  goods  were  sold  at  an  outcry  to  make 
payment  of  the  debts  he  owed  her." 

When  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  Queen  Elizabeth's 
trusted  servant  and  kinsman,  lay  dying,  he  said 
to  his  friends :  "  I  am  now  passing  into  another 
world,  and  I  must  leave  you  to  your  fortunes  and 
the  Queen's  grace  and  goodness,  but  beware  of  the 
gypsy  (meaning  Leicester,  who  was  dark  of  hair 
and  complexion)  for  he  will  be  too<  hard  for  you 
all ;  you  know  not  the  beast  so  well  as  I  do." 

Sir  Christopher  Hatton,  another  conspicuous 
figure  at  the  Court  of  the  Maiden  Monarch,  was 
of  a  family  more  ancient  than  wealthy.  He 
studied  for  the  law  but  came  to  Court  when  he  was 


92  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

young  and  of  fine  appearance.  He  took  part  in 
a  masque  upon  his  entree  to  Court,  where  his 
handsome  person,  gentle  manners  and  graceful 
dancing  so  pleased  Queen  Elizabeth  that  she  made 
him  one  of  her  Gentlemen  Pensioners,  then  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Privy  Chamber,  a  Captain  of  the  Guard, 
one  of  the  Privy  Council,  and  lastly,  Lord  Chan- 
cellor of  England. 

The  favours  bestowed  on  Hatton  by  the  Queen 
aroused  the  jealousy  of  the  whole  Court.  Leices- 
ter, in  order  to  depreciate  Sir  Christopher's 
terpischorean  skill  which  had  drawn  royal  atten- 
tion to  him,  offered  to  introduce  a  dancing  master 
to  the  Queen  and  assured  her  that  Hatton's  at- 
tainments in  that  art  would  appear  very  incon- 
siderable in  comparison  with  his  protege's  perfor- 
mances. 

"Pish,"  replied  Her  Majesty,  scornfully,  "I 
will  not  see  your  man,  it  is  his  trade." 

Hatton's  appointment  as  Chancellor  had  been 
warmly  recommended  by  rival  courtiers  who 
thought  that  by  absence  from  the  Court  and  by 
his  supposed  incapacity  for  his  difficult  office,  he 
might  commit  some  blunders  that  would  be  offen- 
sive to  the  Queen.  But  the  dignified  and  success- 
ful way  in  which  he  filled  his  office  proved  that 
his  Sovereign's  liking  for  him  was  founded  on 
something  more  substantial  than  mere  skill  in 
dancing. 

Hatton  imitated  the  example  of  his  Liege  Lady 
and  never  married.  He  used  to  follow  the  Queen 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  93 

about  with  almost  doglike  devotion,  and,  by  study- 
ing her  moods,  learned  when  the  time  was  ripe  for 
pressing  a  suit  of  his  own  or  that  of  one  of  his 
friends. 

One  day  he  came  out  from  the  Royal  Presence 
looking  troubled,  and,  pulling  Sir  John  Haring- 
ton  by  the  girdle,  said :  "  If  you  have  any  suit 
to-day,  I  pray  you  put  it  aside.  The  sun  doth 
not  shine." 

"  'Tis  this  accursed  Spanish  business,  so  I  will 
not  adventure  Her  Highness'  choler,  lest  she 
should  collar  me  also,"  replied  the  sprightly  Har- 
ington. 

Hatton  was  a  man  of  such  considerable  intel- 
lectual ability  and  so  great  a  patron  of  learning 
that  he  was  made  Chancellor  of  Oxford.  He  died 
in  1591.  His  death  was  due  partly  to  grief  be- 
cause the  Queen  insisted  upon  the  immediate  pay- 
ment of  a  large  sum  of  money  which  he  owed 
the  Royal  treasury.  His  belief  that  she  considered 
this  a  defalcation  hastened  his  end. 

Says  Fuller,  "  It  brake  his  heart  that  the  Queen, 
who  seldom  gave  loans  and  never  forgave  due 
debts,  rigourously  demanded  present  payment  of 
some  arrears  which  Sir  Christopher  did  not  hope 
to  have  remitted,  but  did  only  desire  to  be 
foreborne,  failing  herein  in  the  expectation,  it 
went  to  his  heart  and  cast  him  into  a  mortal  dis- 
ease." 

But  the  Queen  still  insisted  "  for,  though  in 
other  things  she  were  favourable  enough,  yet  sel- 


94i  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

dom  or  never  did  she  remit  the  debts  owing  to 
her  treasury." 

When  Her  Majesty  was  fully  informed  of  the 
seriousness  of  Hatton's  illness,  she  repented  of 
her  persistence,  and,  moved  with  compassion  for 
the  dying  man,  visited  him  and  tried  to  console 
him  with  kind  and  gentle  words.  She  even  went 
so  far  as  to  bring  him  broth  with  her  own  hands. 
But  the  displeasure  of  his  Sovereign  had  broken 
the  Chancellor's  heart  and  he  died  soon  after. 

Queen  Elizabeth  took  pleasure  in  talking  with 
that  ingratiating  Scottish  Ambassador,  Sir  James 
Melville,  who  often  conversed  with  her  on  the  sub- 
ject of  dress  and  never  lost  an  opportunity  to 
compliment  her.  She  told  him,  one  day,  that  she 
had  costumes  made  in  the  fashion  of  all  countries, 
and  that  she  sometimes  dressed  a  Panglaise, 
a  1'espagnole,  a  1'italienne,  and  sometimes  a  la 
fran9aise.  Melville  said  she  appeared  most  beau- 
tiful to  him  a  1'italienne,  for  the  Italian  coiffure 
showed  best  her  lovely  hair.  She  then  asked  him 
whether  she  or  Mary  Stuart  was  the  most  beauti- 
ful. He  replied  that  in  England  there  was  no 
woman  comparable  to  her,  and  in  Scotland  no 
woman  comparable  to  Mary. 

.After  dinner,  Lord  Hunsdon  led  Melville  into 
a  gallery  adjacent  to  the  Queen's  apartments, 
where  she  was  playing  upon  the  harpsichord. 
Hunsdon  asked  him  to  make  no  noise,  and,  softly 
raising  a  portiere,  he  gently  pushed  him  into  the 
room  where  the  Queen  was.  Her  back  was  turned 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  95 

and  she  continued  to  play.  When  she  turned  her 
head  and  saw  Melville,  she  rose  abruptly  from 
the  harpsichord,  and,  coming  toward  him,  struck 
him  lightly  with  her  hand,  saying,  "  I  never  play 
before  men.  How  did  you  come  in  here?  " 

He  answered  that  while  he  was  talking  with 
Hunsdon,  he  had  heard  such  beautiful  music  that 
he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  hear  it  at 
nearer  range.  He  said  that  at  the  Court  of 
France  these  little  familiarities  were  not  displeas- 
ing, but  that  he  was  ready  to  submit  to  the  pun- 
ishment he  deserved,  and  went  down  on  his  knees. 
Queen  Elizabeth  then  offered  him  a  cushion  to 
sit  upon  —  this  was  an  extraordinary  mark  of 
favour  —  for  Burleigh  was  the  only  man  who  was 
allowed  to  sit  before  her,  and  he  was  not  granted 
that  privilege  until  he  became  old  and  gouty. 
Her  Majesty  inquired  if  Mary  played  on  the 
harpsichord  better  than  she  did.  Melville  truth- 
fully replied  that  she  did  not.  As  the  conversa- 
tion continued,  the  Queen  complimented  him  on 
his  manner  of  speaking  and  asked  him  if  he  spoke 
Italian.  He  replied  that  he  had  been  but  two 
months  in  Italy  and  had  not  had  time  to  learn  the 
language.  She  then  began  to  speak  to  him  in 
German,  but  he  knew  that  even  less  than  Italian. 
She  inquired  next  who  were  his  favourite  authors, 
and  if  he  preferred  stories  of  adventure  or  books 
of  history  and  theology.  He  said  that  all  kinds 
pleased  him. 

Upon  leaving  her,  he  announced   that  he  was 


96  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

going  to  depart  from  England  immediately. 
Queen  Elizabeth  made  him  promise  to  wait  two 
days  to  see  her  dance  at  a  Court  ball,  in  order 
that  she  might  learn  from  him  whether  she  or 
Mary  danced  best.  After  the  ball  was  over,  truth 
forced  Melville  to  admit  that  Mary  was  not  so 
graceful  a  dancer  as  the  English  Queen. 

In  her  daily  conversations  with  the  Scottish 
Ambassador,  Elizabeth  repeatedly  affirmed  her  in- 
tention of  remaining  a  Virgin  Queen,  unless  Mary 
should  force  her  to  marry  by  not  following  her 
advice  in  regard  to  her  own  marriage,  or  by  fail- 
ing in  her  duty.  At  the  departure  of  Melville, 
she  said  to  him,  "  Assure  your  Mistress  that  I  love 
her  dearly ;  tell  her  it  is  my  wish  that  we  live 
henceforth  better  friends  than  we  have  been  up 
to  this  time,  and  I  forever  banish  from  my  heart 
1  jealousy  and  all  suspicion." 

Queen  Elizabeth's  motto  was  "  Semper  Eadem  " 
—  always  the  same,  and  this  saying,  together  with 
"  Dieu  et  Mon  Droit,"  appeared  upon  the  Royal 
standards. 

One  day,  says  Fuller,  one  of  the  Councillors,  he 
of  the  white  staff,  came  into  the  Queen's  presence 
and  was  commanded  by  her  to  confer  a  position 
then  vacant  upon  one  of  her  servants  whom  she 
recommended. 

"  Pleaseth  Your  Highness,  Madam,"  replied  the 
Lord,  "  the  disposal  thereof  pertaineth  to  me  by 
virtue  of  this  white  staff  conferred  upon  me." 

"  True,"  replied  Queen  Elizabeth,  "  yet  I  never 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  97 

gave  you  your  office  so  absolutely,  but  I  still 
reserved  myself  of  the  quorum. 

"  But  of  the  quarum,  Madam,"  returned  the 
Councillor,  hoping  to  gain  his  point  by  this 
sally. 

But  Her  Majesty,  not  to  be  won  over  by  his 
Latin  punctiliousness,  impatiently  snatched  the 
staff  from  his  hand,  and  cried,  "  You  shall  ac- 
knowledge me  of  the  quorum,  quarum,  quorum  be- 
fore you  have  it  again." 

"  The  Lord  waited  staffless  almost  a  day  (which 
seemed  so  long  unto  him  as  if  the  sun  stood  still) 
before  the  same  was  re-conferred  upon  him." 

Sir  William  Cecil,  Lord  Burleigh,  greatest  of 
the  Queen's  statesmen,  was  Secretary  and  Lord 
Treasurer  for  over  thirty  years.  His  fidelity  and 
sterling  worth  were  deeply  appreciated  by  his 
Sovereign,  although,  in  a  burst  of  Tudor-like  pas- 
sion, she  once  called  him  "  a  froward  old  fool," 
and,  upon  another  occasion  "  a  coward  and  mis- 
creant." 

In  1571  when  Cecil  was  made  Baron  Burleigh 
by  letters  patent,  Queen  Elizabeth  announced  that 
"  as  well  for  his  long  services  in  the  time  of  our 
progenitors,  Kings  of  England,  as  also  for  the 
faithful  and  acceptable  duties  and  observances 
which  he  hath  constantly  performed  from  the  very 
beginning  of  our  reign  —  we  have  of  our  special 
grace  and  of  our  own  certain  knowledge  and  mere 
motion  raised,  created,  and  advanced  him  to>  the 
state,  dignity,  and  honour  of  Baron  of  Burleigh, 


98  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

and  have  conferred,  given,  and  bestowed  upon  him 
the  name,  style,  and  title  of  Baron  of  Burleigh  to 
have  and  to  hold  to  him  and  his  heirs  male  issuing 
from  his  body  forever,"  etc.  The  next  year  he 
was  created  Lord  High  Treasurer. 

In  1583,  Burleigh,  feeling  the  infirmities  of  old 
age  approaching  and  worn  out  by  the  vexations 
and  difficulties  of  his  position,  or,  as  some  assert, 
grieved  by  a  reproof  from  the  Queen,  or  by  the 
fault-finding  of  certain  members  of  the  Council, 
petitioned  Her  Majesty  that  he  might  resign  his 
office,  leave  Court,  and  henceforth  lead  a  private 
life. 

But  Queen  Elizabeth,  unwilling  to  lose  this 
faithful  friend  and  trusty  servant,  wrote  him  with 
her  own  hand,  this  sprightly  letter  which  caused 
him  to  continue  in  his  State  duties : 

Sir  Spirit: 

I  doubt  I  do  nickname  you.  For  those  of  your 
kind  (they  say)  have  no  sense  (feeling).  But  I 
have  of  late  seen  an  Ecce  Signum,  that  if  an  ass  kick 
you,  you  feel  it  so  soon.  I  will  recant  you  from  being 
spirit,  if  ever  I  perceive  that  you  disdain  not  such  a 
feeling.  Serve  God,  fear  the  King,  and  be  a  good 
fellow  to  the  rest.  Let  never  care  appear  in  you  for 
such  a  rumour,  but  let  them  well  know  that  you  rather 
desire  the  righting  of  such  wrong  by  making  known 
their  error  than  you  be  so  silly  a  soul  as  to  foreslow 
that  you  ought  to  do,  or  not  freely  deliver  what  you 
think  meetest,  and  pass  of  no  man  so  much  as  not 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  99 

to  regard  her  trust  who  putteth  it  in  you.     God  bless 
you  and  long  may  you  last. 

Omino 
E.  R. 

May   8,   1583. 

At  the  latter  end  of  that  month,  the  Queen,  with 
a  numerous  retinue,  visited  Burleigh  at  his  estate 
of  Theobolds  and  stayed  there  five  days.  On  this 
visit  Her  Majesty  remarked,  that  "  his  head  and 
her  purse  could  do  anything." 

At  the  time  of  the  Spanish  Armada,  Queen 
Elizabeth  visited  Lord  Burleigh  at  his  house  in 
the  Strand,  where  he  was  lying  sick  of  gout.  As 
Her  Majesty  advanced  to  enter  the  sick  room,  a 
servant,  noticing  that  the  doorway  was  very  low 
and  the  Queen's  head-dress  very  high,  said  humbly, 
"  May  Your  Highness  be  pleased  to  stoop." 

Queen  Elizabeth's  answer  showed  her  warrior 
spirit.  "  For  your  master's  sake  I  will  stoop,  but 
not  for  the  King  of  Spain's,"  she  replied  proudly, 
and,  bending  her  regal  form,  passed  into  the  cham- 
ber. 

In  1589,  at  the  death  of  his  beloved  wife,  which 
was  a  great  blow  to  Burleigh,  he  grew  very  melan- 
choly and  again  craved  permission  to  withdraw 
from  active  life.  The  Queen  granted  him  all  the 
indulgences  possible  to  his  infirmities  and  took  his 
son  Robert  into  special  favour,  but  could  not  bear 
to  consent  to  the  resignation  of  her  aged  minister. 


100  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

When  Burleigh  was  dying  in  1598,  Queen  Eliza- 
beth devoted  her  attention  to  watching  over  and 
soothing  his  last  hours.  She  was  deeply  grieved 
at  the  first  news  of  his  illness  and  at  once  dis- 
patched Lady  Arundel  to  ask  about  his  health, 
and  sent  him  by  this  lady  an  excellent  cordial, 
together  with  the  message  that  "  she  did  entreat 
Heaven  daily  for  his  longer  life  —  else  would  her 
people,  nay  herself,  stand  in  need  of  cordials  too. 
For  her  comfort  had  been  in  her  people's  hap- 
piness and  their  happiness  in  his  discretion." 
Such  was  the  generous  tribute  borne  by  Lady 
Arundel  from  the  great  Queen  to  her  dying  Pre- 
mier. 

Burleigh  in  his  last  days  said  of  his  Sovereign: 
"  In  all  graces,  by  nature,  by  calling,  by  long 
experience,  she  was  of  such  perfection  as  none  can 
attain  unto."  And  who  could  be  a  better  judge 
of  the  greatness  of  the  Queen  than  he  who  had 
been  at  the  helm  of  government  with  her  for  forty 
years?  In  the  last  letter  which  the  venerable 
statesman  wrote  with  his  own  hand,  he  spoke 
feelingly  of  the  kindness  Elizabeth  showed  him  in 
his  illness.  This  letter  was  to  his  son,  Sir  Robert 
Cecil,  and  in  it  he  said :  "  I  pray  you  diligently 
and  effectually  let  Her  Majesty  understand  how 
her  singular  kindness  doth  overcome  my  power  to 
acquit  it,  who,  though  she  will  not  be  a  mother, 
yet  she  showeth  herself  by  feeding  me  with  her 
own  princely  hand,  as  a  careful  nurse,  and,  if  I 
may  be  weaned  to  feed  myself,  I  shall  be  more 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  101 

ready  to  serve  her  on  earth,  if  not,  I  hope  to  be 
in  Heaven  a  servitor  for  her  and  God's  Church." 
In  a  postscript,  he  adds,  "  Serve  God  by  serving  of 
the  Queen,  for  all  other  service  is  indeed  bondage 
to  the  devil." 

Her  Majesty  was  so  saddened  by  Burleigh's 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  seventy-seventh  year 
of  his  life,  that  she  often  spoke  of  him  with  tears 
in  her  eyes,  and  turned  aside  to  hide  her  grief 
when  others  talked  of  him.  She  finally  forebade 
his  name  to  be  mentioned  in  the  Council  Chamber. 

Camden  says  of  Burleigh :  "  Certainly  he  was 
a  most  excellent  man,  one  of  those  few  who  have 
both  lived  and  died  with  glory." 

Sir  John  Harington  writes  of  him :  "  When 
shall  our  Realm  see  such  a  man,  or  when  such  a 
mistress  have  such  a  servant ;  well  might  one  weep 
when  the  other  died." 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  not  only  averse  to  mar- 
riage herself,  but  she  did  not  wish  her  courtiers  to 
marry  either.  She  often  asked  her  ladies  if  they 
liked  to  think  of  marriage.  Those  who  were  dis- 
creet said  they  did  not,  but  the  fair  cousin  of 
Sir  Mathew  Arundel  was  not  so  wise,  and  she 
answered,  "  she  had  thought  much  about  marriage, 
if  her  father  did  consent  to  the  man  she  loved." 

"  You  seem  honest  i'  faith,"  cried  the  Queen, 
"  I  will  sue  for  you  to  your  father." 

Mistress  Arundel  appeared  highly  pleased  at 
this,  but  the  other  ladies  had  their  suspicions  of 
Her  Majesty's  complaisance. 


102  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

When  Sir  Robert  Arundel,  the  young  lady's 
father,  came  to  Court,  Queen  Elizabeth  spoke  to 
him  of  the  affair  and  urged  his  consent. 

Sir  Robert  said  he  would  give  his  consent  to 
anything  that  pleased  Her  Majesty. 

"  Then  I  will  do  the  rest,"  said  the  Queen,  and 
calling  the  girl,  told  her  that  her  father  con- 
sented. 

"  Then  I  shall  be  happy  and  please  Your  Grace," 
cried  the  delighted  maid  of  honour. 

"  So  thou  shalt,  but  not  to  be  a  fool  and  marry," 
answered  Queen  Elizabeth,  "  I  have  his  consent 
given  to  me,  and  I  vow  thou  shalt  never  get  it 
into  thy  possession;  so  go  to  thy  business,  I  see 
thou  art  a  bold  one  to  own  thy  foolishness  so 
readily." 

Mistress  Arundel  withdrew,  discomforted;  her 
truthfulness  had  lost  her  a  husband. 

Says  Harington,  "  I  need  not  praise  the  Queen's 
frugality.  She  did  love  rich  clothing,  but  often 
chid  those  that  bought  more  finery  than  became 
their  state."  It  happened  once  that  Lady  Mary 
Howard  had  an  elaborate  velvet  suit  with  a  rich 
border  of  gold  and  pearls.  All  the  other  ladies 
were  envious  of  it,  and  the  Virgin  Queen  herself 
was  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  idea  that  a  subject 
should  have  a  gown  more  costly  than  her  own.  So 
one  day,  unbeknown  to  the  Lady  Mary,  she  sent 
for  the  offending  robe,  and  put  it  on  her  Royal 
person.  The  kirtle  and  the  border  were  far  too 
short  for  the  tall  Queen,  but  she  wore  it  into  the 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  103 

chamber  where  the  ladies-in-waiting  were  sitting, 
and  asked  them  all  "  How  they  liked  her  new- 
fancied  suit? "  She  then  asked  the  astonished 
owner,  "  If  it  was  not  made  too  short  and  ill- 
becoming?  " 

Lady  Mary  felt  it  necessary  to  assent. 

"  Why  then,  if  it  become  not  me,  as  being  too 
short,  I  am  minded  it  shall  never  become  thee,  as 
being  too  fine ;  so  it  fitteth  neither  well,"  said  Queen 
Elizabeth,  emphatically. 

Lady  Mary  was  completely  abashed  and  never 
ventured  to  wear  the  dress  again. 

"  I  believe  the  vestment  was  laid  up  till  after 
Queen's  death,"  concludes  Harington. 

Queen  Elizabeth  had  a  propensity  for  bestow- 
ing nicknames  on  her  friends  and  favourite  cour- 
tiers. The  Earl  of  Leicester  she  sometimes  hailed 
as  "  Robin,"  the  Duke  of  Alencon  she  dubbed 
grenouille,  frog,  on  account  of  his  ugly  face. 
Young  Francis  Bacon,  afterwards  the  famous 
Baron  Verulum,  and  the  son  of  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon,  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal,  Her  Majesty 
termed  "  her  little  lord  keeper,"  and  predicted  a 
brilliant  future  for  him.  The  mild-mannered 
Hatton  she  termed  her  "  sheep."  Lady  Margaret 
Norris,  who  was  dark  of  hair  and  complexion,  she 
called  her  "  crow,"  and,  upon  the  death  of  this 
lady's  son,  wrote  her  a  very  affectionate  letter  of 
condolence,  which  she  inscribed  to  "  my  own  crow, 
Upon  the  death  of  Lady  Compton,  the  daughter 
of  Lady  Paget,  the  Queen  wrote  this  gracious  let- 


104  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

ter  of  sympathy  and  consolation  to  the  bereaved 
mother,  who  was  her  own  kinswoman,  as  well  as 
a  dear  friend: 

"  Call  to  mind,  good  Kate,  how  hardly  we 
Princes  can  brook  of  the  crossing  of  our  com- 
mands; how  ireful  will  the  highest  power  be  (may 
you  be  sure)  when  murmurings  shall  be  made  of 
his  pleasingest  will?  Let  nature  therefore  not 
hurt  herself,  but  give  praise  to  the  giver.  Though 
this  lesson  be  from  a  sely  vicar,  yet  it  is  sent  from 
a  loving  Sovereign." 

One  Sunday  when  the  Bishop  of  London 
preached  before  Queen  Elizabeth  and  her  ladies, 
he  indiscreetly  took  as  his  text  the  vanity  of 
dress,  and  directed  his  energy  to  scoring  the 
women  of  the  age  for  their  love  of  fine  apparel. 
The  Queen,  not  unnaturally,  took  this  as  a  covert, 
though  none  the  less  bold,  rebuke  for  her  own 
fondness  for  splendid  attire  and  display  of  jewels. 
She  remarked  to  her  ladies,  with  considerable  dis- 
pleasure, that  "if  the  Bishop  held  more  discourse 
on  such  matters,  she  would  fit  him  for  Heaven, 
but  he  should  walk  thither  without  a  staff  and 
leave  his  mantle  behind  him." 

An  especial  favourite  with  the  Virgin  Queen  was 
Sir  Philip  Sidney,  that  "  perfect  gentleman  "  and 
gallant  knight  of  chivalry.  As  the  nephew  of  the 
Earl  of  Leicester,  he  was  attracted  to  the  Court 
at  an  early  age  and  won  the  favour,  not  only  of 
the  Queen,  but  that  of  the  entire  Court  as  well. 
He  was  entrusted  by  Her  Majesty  with  a  mission 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  105 

to  Heidelberg  and  Prague,  and,  although  he  failed 
of  his  purpose,  received  commendation,  rather  than 
blame,  upon  his  return. 

The  people  of  Poland  wished  to  make  him  their 
King,  but  he  replied  that  "  he  preferred  to  be  a 
subject  to  Queen  Elizabeth  than  a  Sovereign  be- 
yond the  seas." 

In  1585  he  planned  to  sail  with  Sir  Francis 
Drake  in  an  expedition  against  the  Spanish,  but 
was  forbidden  by  his  Sovereign  for  fear  "  lest  she 
lose  the  jewel  of  her  dominions."  But  later  in 
the  year,  she  appointed  him  Governor  of  Flushing 
under  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  At  the  battle  of 
Zutphen,  he  recklessly  exposed  himself  and  re- 
ceived a  musket-shot  in  the  thigh  which,  after 
great  suffering,  finally  caused  his  death.  As  Sid- 
ney lay  burning  with  thirst  on  the  battle-field,  a 
bottle  of  water  was  brought  to  him.  He  was 
about  to  drink,  when  he  noticed  a  dying  private 
soldier  gazing  wistfully  at  the  bottle,  and,  without 
waiting  even  to  touch  his  parched  lips  to  the 
water,  Sir  Philip  passed  it  to  the  soldier,  saying: 
"  Thy  necessity  is  greater  than  mine." 

The  body  of  the  gentle  Sidney  was  brought 
back  to  England  and  buried  with  great  solemnity 
in  St.  Paul's,  amid  general  lamentation  in  which 
the  entire  Court  shared,  while  all  the  nobility  went 
into  mourning  for  him.  "  He  was  sublimely  mild, 
a  spirit  without  spot  "  is  Shelley's  eloquent  tribute. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  courtier,  navigator  and  ex- 
plorer, was  the  youngest  son  of  an  ancient,  but 


106  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

not  wealthy  family  of  Devonshire.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  Oxford,  and  came  to  Court,  after  some 
services  in  Ireland. 

It  is  related  that  when  Raleigh,  splendidly  at- 
tired, reached  the  Court,  he  found  Queen  Eliza- 
beth walking  with  her  courtiers.  As  she  came  to 
a  muddy  place,  she  stopped  and  hesitated,  seem- 
ing loth  to  soil  her  dainty  satin  slipper.  Instantly 
Raleigh  snatched  off  his  new  velvet  cloak  and 
spread  it  upon  the  ground,  indicating  that  it  was 
for  his  Sovereign's  use.  The  Queen  smiled,  and 
stepped  upon  it,  thanking  him  graciously,  and 
afterwards  "  gave  him  many  suits  for  a  reward." 
But  she  made  him  earn  by  toils  and  dangers  the 
honours  she  bestowed  upon  him,  and  he  made  many 
enemies  at  Court  who  persistently  opposed  his  ad- 
vancement. 

Raleigh  was  "  a  tall,  handsome  and  bold  man. 
He  had  a  most  remarkable  aspect,  an  exceeding 
high  forehead,  long  faced  and  sour-eyelidded." 
He  owed  his  rise  at  Court  largely  to  a  successful 
study  of  the  Queen's  moods  and  caprices.  No  one 
understood  better  than  he  just  how  much  flattery 
Her  Majesty  would  condescend  to  accept. 

One  day,  noticing  that  the  Royal  gaze  was  rest- 
ing upon  him,  he  scratched  upon  a  window  pane, 
with  a  diamond,  "  Fain  would  I  climb,  yet  fear  I 
to  fall." 

Queen  Elizabeth,  after  reading  this,  deigned  to 
write  beneath,  "  If  thy  heart  fails  thee,  climb  not 
at  all." 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  107 

"  However,"  says  Fuller,  "  he  at  last  did  climb 
up  by  the  stairs  of  his  own  desert." 

In  1595  he  came  into  high  disfavour  with  the 
Queen  through  an  intrigue  with  one  of  the  maids 
of  honour,  whom  he  afterwards  married.  He  was 
confined  in  the  Tower  for  several  months.  One 
day,  hearing  that  the  Queen  was  about  to  pass  to 
Greenwich  in  her  barge,  he  insisted  upon  going 
to  the  window  to  "  behold  at  whatever  distance  the 
Queen  of  his  affections,  the  most  beautiful  object 
which  the  earth  bore  upon  its  surface."  The  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Tower,  who  was  a  particular  friend 
of  his,  then  threw  himself  between  Raleigh  and 
the  window.  This  gave  the  crafty  Sir  Walter 
an  opportunity  to  fly  into  a  violent  rage,  in  which 
he  swore  loudly,  that  he  would  not  be  prevented 
from  seeing  "  his  light,  his  life,  his  goddess." 
Then  the  Lieutenant  and  the  prisoner  strug- 
gled wildly,  tore  each  other's  hair,  drew  out  their 
daggers,  and  finally  it  was  found  necessary  to 
separate  them  by  force.  This  scene,  undoubtedly 
gotten  up  for  the  sake  of  effect,  was  duly  reported 
to  Queen  Elizabeth  as  an  instance  of  Raleigh's 
devotion  and  frantic  adoration  of  her  Royal 
self. 

Soon  after  this,  Sir  Walter's  inventive  genius 
was  repaid  by  a  release  from  prison,  and  permis- 
sion to  marry  the  lady  on  account  of  whom  he  had 
been  imprisoned.  He  was  not,  however,  allowed 
at  Court,  and  finally  went  on  an  unsuccessful  voy- 
age to  Guiana  in  search  of  gold.  On  an  expedi- 


108  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

!;ion  to  America,  he  named  Virginia  in  honour  of 
the  Virgin  Queen. 

Sir  John  Harington,  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
for  many  interesting  descriptions  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, was  the  son  of  John  Harington  and  Isabella 
Markham,  both  of  whom,  in  the  reign  of  Mary, 
were  imprisoned  eleven  months  in  the  Tower  for 
carrying  a  letter  to  the  Princess  Elizabeth.  Their 
zealous  devotion  to  the  Princess  placed  them  high 
in  her  favour,  so,  at  her  accession,  she  retained 
them  in  her  service,  and  afterwards  stood  god- 
mother to  their  son  as  a  reward  for  what  they  had 
suffered  on  her  account. 

The  younger  Harington  was  educated  at  Eton 
and  Cambridge.  The  report  of  his  scholarship 
and  wit  soon  reached  the  ears  of  the  Queen,  who 
summoned  him  to  Court,  where  he  gained  the  esteem 
of  the  courtiers  of  both  sexes.  What  he  thought 
of  a  courtier's  life  may  be  gleaned  from  this 
couplet  of  his: 

"  Who  liveth  in  Courts,  must  mark  what  they  say ; 
Who  liveth  for  ease,  had  better  live  away." 

Harington,  being  well-versed  in  Italian,  made 
an  anonymous  translation  of  a  tale  from  Ariosto's 
"  Orlando  Furioso,"  which  greatly  pleased  the 
ladies  of  the  Court.  The  Queen's  sharp  eyes  soon 
lighted  upon  this  poetry  and  she  demanded  to 
know  the  name  of  the  translator.  When  she  heard 
it  was  her  godson,  she  sent  for  him  in  all  haste, 
and  deeming  it  proper  to  show  indignation  at 


QUEEN  EUZABETH  109 

some  broad  passages,  accused  him  "  of  endangering 
the  morals  of  her  maids  of  honour  by  so  indecor- 
ous a  tale."  As  a  punishment,  she  ordered  him  to 
withdraw  to  his  country  estate,  and  not  to  appear 
before  her  again  until  he  had  made  a  complete 
version  of  the  entire  poem. 

Harington,  taking  Her  Majesty  at  her  word,  at 
once  set  to  work,  and,  in  a  short  time,  finished  the 
whole  poem  and  dedicated  it  to  the  Queen  herself. 
By  this  characteristic  display  of  audacity,  he 
speedily  regained  the  favour  of  his  Royal  god- 
mother, whom  he  seems  to  have  dearly  loved  and 
highly  esteemed,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  carried 
on  a  correspondence  with  James  of  Scotland  be- 
fore the  death  of  Elizabeth.  This  apparent  con- 
tradiction might  be  explained  as  proceeding  from 
the  hard  necessity  of  providing  for  his  future 
maintenance  and  that  of  his  numerous  family, 
rather  than  from  any  lack  of  affection  for  his 
benefactress,  of  whom  he  wrote  in  words  of  glowing 
praise  some  years  after  her  death. 

Later  on,  another  work  of  his,  "  The  Metamor- 
phosis of  Ajax,"  which  was  a  biting  satire  on  his 
contemporaries,  and  particularly  on  the  Earl  of 
Leicester,  called  forth  the  serious  displeasure  of 
the  Queen.  The  author  escaped  a  Star  Chamber 
inquisition  more  through  his  Sovereign's  regard 
for  him  than  because  he  deserved  it.  Queen  Eliza- 
beth banished  him  from  the  Court  for  a  time  and, 
at  first,  seemed  irrevocably  offended  with  him,  but 
was  finally  heard  to  say  that  "  she  liked  the  mar- 


110  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

row  of  the  book,  and  would  take  the  author  into 
favour,  but  for  fear  he  would  write  epigrams  again 
on  her  and  all  her  Court,"  and  added  that,  "  that 
merry  poet,  her  godson,  must  not  come  to  Green- 
wich till  he  hath  grown  sober,  and  leaveth  the 
ladies,  sports  and  frolics." 

But,  as  the  favour  of  the  Queen  was  founded  not 
only  on  his  wit  and  gaiety,  but  on  the  excellence 
of  his  character  as  well,  he  soon  again  enjoyed  the 
light  of  the  Royal  Presence.  The  repeated  par- 
dons of  his  indulgent  godmother  induced  the 
sprightly  Harington  to  increase  the  number  and 
sharpness  of  his  writings,  and  he  gained  for  him- 
self both  admiration  and  fear. 

He  gives  us  a  striking  example  of  Her  "  High- 
ness' great  wit  and  marvellous  understanding." 
He  relates  how  Queen  Elizabeth  wrote  one  letter 
while  she  dictated  another,  and,  at  the  same  time 
listened  to  a  tale  that  was  told  her,  and  made  apt 
answers  to  it.  The  letter  which  she  dictated  runs 
as  follows: 

"  A  question  was  once  asked  me  thus,  '  Must 
aught  be  denied  a  friend's  request?  Answer  me 
yea  or  nay.'  It  was  answered,  nothing.  And 
first  it  is  best  to  scan  what  a  friend  is;  which  I 
think  nothing  less  than  friendship  is,  which  I  deem 
nothing  but  one  uniform  consent  of  two  minds 
such  as  virtue  links,  and  nought  but  death  can 
part.  Therefore  I  conclude  the  house  which 
shrinketh  from  its  foundation  shall  down  for 
me.  For  friend  leaves  he  to  be,  that  doth  demand 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  111 

more  than  the  givers  grant,  which  reason's  leave 
may  yield.  And,  if  then  my  friend  no  more,  God 
send  my  foe  may  mend.  And,  if  needily  thou 
must  will,  yet,  at  the  least,  no  power  be  thine 
to  achieve  thine  desire;  for  when  minds  differ  and 
opinions  swarve,  there  is  scant  a  friend  in  that 
company.  But  if  my  hap  be  fallen  in  so  happy 
a  soil,  as  one  such  be  found  who  wills  that  be- 
seems, and  I  be  pleased  with  that  he  so  allows, 
I  bid  myself  farewell,  and  then  I  am  but  his." 

The  letter  she  wrote  was  more  than  twice  as 
long  as  this,  but  the  tale  is  not  included  among 
Harington's  papers,  and  so  its  length  and  tenor 
cannot  be  determined. 

In  1575,  Queen  Elizabeth  wrote  a  lengthy 
speech  to  be  delivered  at  the  opening  of  Parlia- 
ment on  March  15.  In  this,  she  spoke  of  the  diffi- 
culties of  her  high  position  and  expressed  her 
resolution  to  remain  unmarried,  wishing  that  she 
might  "  cancel  every  persuasion  to  the  contrary 
out  of  remembrance."  Her  Majesty  sent  a  copy 
of  this  to  Harington,  who  records  the  receipt  of 
it  thus :  "  These  good  words  were  given  unto  me 
by  my  most  honoured  Lady  and  Princess,  and  did 
bring  with  them  these  good  advices: 

"  '  Boy  Jack, —  I  have  made  a  clerk  write  fair 
my  poor  words  for  thine  use,  as  it  cannot  be  such 
striplings'  have  entrance  into  Parliament  as  yet. 
Ponder  them  in  thy  hours  of  leisure,  and  play  with 
them,  till  they  enter  thy  understanding;  so  shalt 
thou  hereafter,  perchance,  find  some  good  fruits 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

thereof  when  thy  godmother  is  out  of  remem- 
brance; and  I  do  this  because  thy  father  was 
ready  to  serve  and  love  us  in  trouble  and  thrall.' ' 

It  was  evidently  the  Queen's  earnest  desire  to 
turn  her  godson's  thoughts  from  his  brilliant,  but 
biting  epigrams  to  the  more  serious  pursuit  of 
learning,  for,  upon  a  later  occasion,  she  sent  him 
an  excellent  translation  which  she  herself  had  made 
of  one  of  Tully's  letters,  with  an  injunction  to 
muse  on  this  too. 

In  1594*,  Queen  Elizabeth,  upon  the  occasion 
of  a  visit  to  Harington,  highly  praised  his  wife's 
skill  in  cooking,  and,  as  she  rose  to  leave,  bade  her 
godson  give  her  his  arm  to  lean  upon.  He  wrote 
of  this  in  his  "  Brief  Notes  and  Remembrances." 
"  Oh,  what  sweet  burden  to  my  next  song !  Pe- 
trach  shall  eke  out  good  matter  for  this  business." 

Upon  another  visit  to  Harington,  Her  Majesty, 
in  merry  mood,  asked  his  wife  how  she  kept  her 
husband's  good  will,  and  his  love  for  herself  and 
her  children.  Mistress  Harington  answered  de- 
murely that  "  she  had  confidence  in  her  husband's 
intelligence  and  courage,  founded  on  her  intention 
not  to  offend  or  oppose,  but  to  love  and  obey." 

"  Go  to,  go  to,  Mistress,"  said  the  Queen,  "  you 
are  wisely  bent,  I  find;  after  such  sort  do  I  keep 
the  good-will  of  all  my  husbands,  my  good  people ; 
for,  if  they  did  not  rest  assured  of  some  special 
love  toward  them,  they  would  not  readily  yield  me 
such  good  obedience." 

Harington,  on  account  of  his  favour  with  the 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  113 

Queen,  was  often  entreated  by  many  fair  ladies 
to  carry  various  petitions  of  theirs  to  their  Royal 
Mistress.  Upon  one  such  occasion  he  writes  that 
he  will  carry  the  suits  at  once  "  for  the  Queen  loveth 
to  see  me  in  my  last  frieze  jerkin,  and  saith  'tis 
well  enough  cut." 

Some  little  time  after  this,  Harington  writes  that 
he  has  decided  to  plead  on  his  own  account  with 
the  Queen  "  and  that  stoutly ;  she  loveth  plain  deal- 
ings and  I  will  not  lie  unto  her."  He  resolves  to 
go  to  her  at  an  early  hour,  before  she  is  busy  with 
State  affairs,  kneel  before  her  and  say,  '  God  save 
Your  Majesty,  I  crave  your  ear  at  what  hour 
may  suit  for  your  servant  to  meet  your  blessed 
countenance.'  Thus  will  I  gain  her  favour  to 
follow  to  the  auditory." 

It  seems  not  unlikely  that  this  skilful  courtier 
received  his  desired  boon  from  the  hands  of  his  in- 
dulgent Royal  godmother,  for  he  hastens  to  wheedle 
another  favour  from  her  by  his  usual  combination 
of  flattery  and  audacity.  For  this  purpose  he 
prepares  these  lines,  which  he  drops  behind  her 
cushion,  as  he  leaves  her  presence : 

"To  the  Queen's  Majesty: 
Forever  dear,  forever  dreaded  Prince, 
You  read  a  verse  of  mine  a  little  since, 
And  so  pronounced  each  word  and  every  letter 
Your  gracious  reading  grac'd  my  verse  the  better, 
Sith  then  Your  Highness'  doth,  by  gift  exceeding, 
Make  what  you  read  the  better  for  your  reading, 
Let  my  poor  muse  your  pains  thus  far  importune, 


114  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Like  as  you  read  my  verse,  so  —  read  my  fortune. 
From  Your  Highness'  saucy  Godson/' 

In  1597,  a  certain  Mr.  Fenton,  recognizing 
Harington's  success  in  obtaining  suits  from  the 
Queen,  sent  a  petition  to  him  to  save  from  Her 
Majesty's  displeasure  one  of  her  maids  of  honour, 
the  Lady  Mary  Howard.  Mr.  Fenton  begins  his 
lengthy  epistle :  "  It  seemeth  marvellous  that  our 
gracious  Queen  hath  so  much  annoyance  from  her 
most  bounden  servants.  Her  own  love  hath  so 
wrought  on  us  all  that  the  heart  must  be  evil  in- 
deed that  doth  pay  her  its  small  duty  so  grudg- 
ingly as  some  have  done  of  late." 

It  seems  that  the  Lady  Mary  had  refused  to 
carry  Queen  Elizabeth's  mantle  at  the  time  she 
was  accustomed  to  walk  in  the  garden,  and,  upon 
only  a  slight  rebuke,  made  such  a  saucy  answer, 
that  the  Queen  became  very  angry.  Again,  this 
pert  maid  of  honour  was  not  ready  to  carry  the 
"  cup  of  grace  "  during  dinner,  nor  did  she  attend 
Her  Majesty  when  she  went  to  prayers.  Queen 
Elizabeth  was  so  incensed  at  these  repeated  acts 
of  disobedience  that  she  swore  she  would  dismiss 
her  from  the  Court.  In  addition,  Lady  Mary 
strove  in  every  way  to  gain  the  favour  of  the 
young  Earl  of  Essex.  This  was  especially  dis- 
pleasing to  the  Virgin  Queen,  as  she  was  constantly 
exhorting  her  ladies  to  follow  her  example  and 
remain  unmarried. 

This   Master  Fenton   had  tried   in   person   to 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  115 

soothe  Her  Majesty's  anger  against  the  unruly 
damsel,  but  all  in  vain,  for  Queen  Elizabeth  an- 
swered, passionately :  "  I  have  made  her  my 
servant,  and  she  will  now  make  herself  my  mistress ; 
but,  in  good  faith,  she  shall  not,  William,  and  so 
tell  her." 

Fenton  suggests  in  his  letter  to  Harington  that 
Lord  Burleigh  be  asked  to  intercede  for  Lady 
Mary  and  to  tell  the  girl  that  she  should  be  obedi- 
ent to  the  Queen  in  all  things;  that  she  should, 
above  all,  cease  her  attentions  to  Essex  and 
try  in  every  way  to  make  amends  for  her  sauci- 
ness  and  insubordination.  Fenton  also  discreetly 
proposes  that  Mary  should  not  dress  too  gaily, 
"  for  this  seemeth  as  done  more  to  win  the  Earl 
than  her  Mistress'  good-will." 

He  goes  on  to  say  that,  considering  the  great 
favours  Queen  Elizabeth  has  always  shown  the 
Howard  family,  she  has  just  cause  to  be  displeased 
at  Lady  Mary's  insolence  and  ingratitude,  "  for 
the  Queen  doth  not  now  bear  with  such  composed 
spirit  as  she  was  wont ;  but,  since  the  Irish  affairs, 
seemeth  more  froward  than  commonly  she  used  to 
bear  herself  towards  her  women,  but  often  chides 
them  for  small  neglects;  in  such  wise  as  to  make 
these  fair  maids  often  cry  and  bewail  in  piteous 
sort,  as  I  am  told  by  my  sister,  Elizabeth." 

Unfortunately,  we  are  not  informed  whether 
Lady  Mary  followed  Master  Fenton's  wise  advice, 
and  was  received  again  into  Royal  favour. 


X 

QUEEN  ELIZABETH  AT  OXFORD 

On  Saturday,  August  31,  1566,  Her  Majesty, 
in  an  open  litter  drawn  by  gaily  caparisoned 
mules,  and  followed  by  a  numerous  retinue  of  Lords 
and  Ladies,  rode  from  Woodstock  to  Oxford.  At 
Wolvercotte,  the  Royal  party  was  met  by  the 
Earl  of  Leicester,  who  was  Chancellor  of  Oxford 
University,  together  with  four  Doctors  of  Philoso- 
phy, eight  Masters  of  Arts,  and  three  beadles,  who 
knelt  and  handed  their  staffs  to  Leicester.  He, 
likewise  kneeling,  passed  them  to  the  Queen,  who 
handed  them  back  with  a  few  appropriate  words. 

After  this  ceremony,  Master  Marbecke  of  the 
University  stepped  forward  and  delivered  an  ad- 
dress of  welcome  which  lasted  a  quarter  of  an 
hour.  Queen  Elizabeth  gave  thanks  for  this 
speech  in  her  accustomed  gracious  manner,  and 
extended  her  slim,  white  hand  to  the  delegates  of 
the  University,  who,  on  bended  knees,  kissed  it 
reverently. 

From  Wolvercotte,  the  Queen,  preceded  by  the 
beadles  mounted  on  horseback,  and  carrying  their 
staffs,  rode  to  within  a  mile  of  Oxford.  Here, 

the  Mayor  and  his  Aldermen,  in  their  scarlet  gowns, 
116 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  117 

together  with  the  chief  citizens  of  the  town,  re- 
ceived Her  Majesty.  The  Mayor,  going  through 
the  usual  custom,  tendered  his  mace  to  the  Sov- 
ereign, who  at  once  handed  it  back.  Then  the 
Mayor  made  a  lengthy  welcoming  oration  in  the 
name  of  the  city  and  presented  the  Queen  with  a 
"  cup  of  silver  double  gilt,  in  value  101.  in  old 
gold,  as  it  was  thought." 

After  giving  thanks  for  this  presentation,  the 
Royal  visitor  entered  the  City  of  Oxford  at  North- 
gate.  From  here  to  the  door  of  Christ  Church 
Hall  all  the  members  of  the  University  were  stand- 
ing, in  the  order  of  their  degree. 

Two  scholars  of -the  first  degree  stepped  for- 
ward and  gave  Her  Majesty  an  oration  and  certain 
verses  in  writing,  then  two  Bachelors  of  Art, 
two  Masters  of  Art,  and  lastly  two  Doctors  of 
Philosophy  did  likewise.  These  students,  all  in 
their  caps  and  gowns  adorned  with  the  insignia 
of  their  academic  honours,  presented  an  imposing 
appearance  as  they  stood,  drawn  up  in  splendid 
array,  before  the  keen  eyes  of  their  Sovereign. 

After  a  spech  by  Robert  Deale  of  New  College, 
Queen  Elizabeth  rode  on,  and  the  scholars,  kneel- 
ing, cried  "  Vivat  Regina  —  long  live  the  Queen !  " 
She,  with  a  joyful  and  gratified  smile,  said  often, 
"  Gratias  ago  —  I  thank  you." 

When  she  came  to  the  middle  of  the  city,  the 
public  Reader  of  the  Greek  lecture,  made  her  a 
long  speech  of  welcome  in  Greek.  Her  Majesty 
listened  to  this  attentively,  and  then  gave  him 


118  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

courteous  thanks  in  the  same  classic  language. 
The  restlessness  of  the  mules  that  bore  the  Royal 
litter  prevented  those  who  did  not  stand  near  the 
Queen  from  hearing  the  whole  of  her  reply. 

Still  riding  on  through  the  rows  of  scholars, 
Her  Majesty  came  to  the  hall  door  of  Christ 
Church,  where  the  Orator  of  the  University  de- 
livered a  speech.  After  thanking  him,  the  Queen 
stepped  from  the  litter,  and  walking  under  a  can- 
opy of  crimson  velvet  held  over  her  by  four  Senior 
Doctors,  entered  the  church  and  listened  to  the 
singing  of  the  Te  Deum  by  the  choir,  accompanied 
by  cornets.  When  the  service  was  ended,  Her 
Majesty  was  conducted  to  her  lodgings.  Upon 
the  college  gate,  hall  door,  and  walls  of  the  church 
were  posted  verses  in  Latin  and  Greek,  written  in 
honour  and  praise  of  the  Maiden  Queen. 

On  Sunday,  Elizabeth,  wearied  by  the  journey 
and  the  perpetual  speech-making,  remained  in  her 
apartments  the  entire  day.  In  the  evening,  a 
Latin  play  was  performed  in  the  hall  of  Christ 
Church.  Many  Noblemen  were  present,  but  the 
illustrious  visitor  felt  too  fatigued  to  attend. 

On  Monday,  the  Nobility  and  the  Spanish  Am- 
bassador, who  had  come  in  the  Queen's  retinue, 
listened  to  public  lectures  and  disputations.  In 
the  evening,  Her  Majesty  was  sufficiently  recovered 
from  her  indisposition  to  hear  the  first  part  of  the 
English  play,  "  Palaemon  and  Arcite."  This 
was  written  by  Master  Edwards  of  Queen's  chapel 
and  played  in  the  hall  of  Christ  church. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  119 

During  the  course  of  the  play,  three  people,  a 
scholar  of  St.  Mary's  Hall,  a  cook,  and  a  brewer 
of  the  city  were  killed,  and  many  others  severely 
injured  by  the  crowding  of  the  spectators,  who 
pushed  down  a  piece  of  the  side  wall  of  a  stair 
upon  them. 

Queen  Elizabeth  expressed  great  sympathy  and 
sent  her  own  surgeons  to  assist  the  unfortunate 
men,  three  of  whom  were  past  remedy.  With  the 
exception  of  this  deplorable  accident,  the  play  was 
highly  successful  and  was  received  with  great 
favour  by  Her  Majesty. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  the  disputations  which 
had  been  deferred  on  account  of  the  Queen's  indis- 
position, were  held  in  St.  Mary's.  Her  Majesty 
and  the  courtiers  listened  with  remarkable  patience 
to  endless  discussions  on  natural  and  moral  philos- 
ophy. Among  other  things,  the  question  was  de- 
bated whether  Princes  should  be  elected  or  hered- 
itary. 

The  decision  was  naturally  made  in  favour  of  the 
hereditary  theory,  but  one  of  its  opponents  boldly 
declared  his  readiness  to  die  for  his  opinions. 
The  Queen,  with  an  ironical  smile,  applauded  him, 
but  the  others  prudently  refrained  from  expressing 
their  sentiments. 

It  had  been  proposed  that  night  to  present  the 
second  part  of  "  Palaemon  and  Arcite,"  but,  as  Her 
Majesty  was  weary,  the  play  was  postponed  until 
the  next  evening. 

On  Wednesday  after  dinner,  the  Queen  listened 


120  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

to  disputations  on  Civil  Law,  which  were  held  in 
St.  Mary's  Church,  and  lasted  for  four  hours. 
Elizabeth's  excellent  and  noteworthy  reform  of 
the  currency  was  discussed  and  commended.  The 
Nobles  listened  to  this  debate  with  especial  interest. 
In  the  evening,  the  second  half  of  "  Palaemon  and 
Arcite  "  was  played  in  the  hall  of  Christ  Church. 
The  refusal  of  the  goddess  to  grant  the  heroine's 
prayer  to  be  allowed  to  lead  a  virgin  life,  was 
vigourously  applauded  by  the  spectators,  while  the 
Queen's  applause  was  somewhat  stinted,  for  she 
probably  felt  that  this  was  a  covert  hint  to  her  to 
marry.  However,  at  the  close  of  the  performance, 
she  gave  Master  Edwards  many  thanks  for  the 
entertainment  he  had  prepared. 

On  the  next  day,  debates  on  Physics  and  Divin- 
ity were  held  in  St.  Mary's,  from  two  until  seven 
o'clock.  The  Queen  was  very  attentive,  and  stayed 
until  the  end.  The  question  was  discussed  whether 
it  was  lawful  to  take  up  arms  against  a  bad 
Prince.  The  decision  was  decidedly  in  the  nega- 
tive. Elizabeth  herself  ended  the  proceedings, 
and,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  Spanish  Am- 
bassador and  her  Nobles,  made  a  pleasing  and  elo- 
quent speech  in  Latin  before  the  whole  University, 
who  loudly  and  enthusiastically  applauded  her. 

In  the  evening,  the  Latin  tragedy,  "  Progne," 
was  played,  but  was  received  with  much  less  favour 
than  "  Palaemon  and  Arcite  "  had  excited. 

On  Friday  morning,  a  sermon  in  Latin  was 
preached  in  Christ  Church  before  the  Nobles  and 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  scholars,  but  the  Queen,  again  feeling  wearied, 
remained  in  her  lodgings  until  dinner.  While  at 
table,  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  the  Proctors  pre- 
sented Her  Majesty  with  six  pairs  of  fine  gloves; 
one  or  two  pairs  were  also  given  to  the  Nobles  and 
officers  of  the  Royal  household.  These  gifts  were 
very  graciously  received. 

After  dinner,  Queen  Elizabeth  took  her  depar- 
ture from  the  University.  A  farewell  address  was 
made  to  her  in  Christ  Church,  after  which  she  rode 
on  to  St.  Mary's  where  glowing  eulogies  of  her 
princely  self  were  posted  conspicuously  on  the 
doors,  walls  and  gates  of  this  building,  as  well  as 
upon  all  the  dormitories  she  passed  by.  The 
scholars  stood  in  order  of  their  rank  from  St. 
Mary's  to  the  east  gate.  Four  Doctors  of  the 
University,  in  scarlet  gowns  and  hoods,  rode  be- 
fore Her  Majesty;  after  them  came  four  Masters 
of  Arts,  in  black  gowns  and  hoods,  next  the  Mayor 
and  fourteen  Aldermen  in  their  bright  coloured 
vestments.  They  attended  their  Royal  guest  as 
far  as  Magdalen  Bridge,  where  Masters  Marbecke 
and  Deale  delivered  two  more  farewell  speeches. 
The  Queen  then  took  affable  leave  of  her  hosts  and 
gave  them  her  hand  to  kiss. 

As  she  rode  away,  she  exclaimed,  "  Farewell,  the 
worthy  University  of  Oxford.  Farewell,  my  good 
sub j  ects  here ;  farewell,  my  dear  scholars ;  and 
pray  God  prosper  your  studies.  Farewell,  fare- 
well." 

She  also  remarked  that  she  was  sorry  she  had 


122  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

not  been  able  to  visit  the  separate  colleges,  and 
then  added,  with  a  mirthful  gleam  in  her  eyes, 
that  she  exceedingly  regretted  not  having  heard 
any  more  sermons. 

She  left  behind  her  golden  memories  of  her  gra- 
cious bearing.  Charles  Plummer,  Fellow  of 
Christ  College,  Oxford,  in  1887,  says  that  the 
praise  bestowed  upon  the  Virgin  Queen  "  though 
fulsome,  was  richly  earned  by  her,  for  the  condi- 
tion of  England  as  compared  with  other  countries 
was  truly  fortunate."  She  herself  said  on  her 
second  visit  to  Oxford  that  "  next  to  the  salvation 
of  her  soul,  her  greatest  aim  had  ever  been  to  pre- 
serve England  from  foreign  attack  and  internal 
strife."  And,  says  Plummer,  "  she  succeeded,  un- 
der God,  beyond  what  any  one  would  have  dared 
to  hope." 


XI 
QUEEN  ELIZABETH  AND  MARY  STUART 

The  chief  promoter  of  discord  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth  was  the  brilliant  and  beautiful 
Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  the  granddaughter  of 
Margaret,  elder  sister  of  Henry  VIII,  who  mar- 
ried the  King  of  Scotland.  Mary  was  therefore 
cousin  of  the  English  Queen  and  the  next  heir  to 
the  Throne.  Mary  had  been  brought  up  in  France 
and  had  married  the  heir  to  the  French  Throne, 
becoming  Queen  Consort  of  France  just  after  the 
accession  of  Elizabeth.  She  then  styled  herself 
"  Queen  of  England,  Scotland  and  France,"  but 
did  not  at  that  time  press  her  claims  to  the  English 
Throne.  Mary  was  eight  years  younger  than 
Queen  Elizabeth,  well-educated,  of  attractive  per- 
sonality, and  had  imbibed  from  the  intriguing 
French  Court  a  love  of  scheming,  which  she  em- 
ployed for  purely  personal  aims  and  ambitions. 

At  the  death  of  her  husband,  Francis  II,  Mary, 
finding  her  life  in  France  unpleasant  on  account 
of  the  jealousy  of  Catherine  de'  Medici,  the  Queen 
Mother,  and  urged  by  her  subjects  to  come  home, 
decided  to  return  to  Scotland.  She  asked  Eliza- 
beth's permission  to  pass  through  England,  but 

123 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

was  refused  because  she  would  not  sign  a  treaty 
giving  up  her  claim  to  the  English  Throne,  which 
she  believed  she  had  a  better  right  to  than  Eliza- 
beth herself,  since  the  divorce  of  Henry  VIII 
from  Katherine  of  Aragon  and  his  subsequent  mar- 
riage with  Anne  Boleyn,  had  not  been  sanctioned 
by  the  Pope. 

Mary  found  her  position  in  Scotland  very  diffiY 
cult.  She  was  a  Roman  Catholic  Queen  in  the 
midst  of  a  nation,  in  the  main,  radically  Protestant. 
Accustomed  as  she  was  to  the  gaiety,  luxury  and 
courtesy  of  the  French  Court,  her  pleasure  loving 
nature  was  fairly  choked  by  the  austerity  of 
Scotch  Protestantism  and  the  rough,  quarrelsome 
manners  of  her  courtiers. 

The  inevitable  contest  with  Queen  Elizabeth 
soon  began.  Her  Majesty  of  England  had  al- 
ready, before  Mary's  return,  aided  the  Scotch 
Protestants  in  a  rebellion  against  their  Regent. 
Mary  now  steadily  importuned  Elizabeth  to  recog- 
nize her  as  heiress-presumptive  to  the  English 
Throne.  This  the  Queen  of  England  as  steadily 
refused  to  do,  for  she  saw  clearly  that  it  would  give 
encouragement  to  the  Catholic  party  to  form  a  coa- 
lition against  her,  and  probably  cause  some  of  the 
more  fanatic  of  its  members  to  seek  her  life.  As  she 
expressed  it,  "  She  was  not  so  foolish  as  to  hang 
a  winding  sheet  before  her  eyes  or  make  a  funeral 
feast  whilst  she  was  alive."  She  promised,  however, 
that  she  would  not  do  anything  herself  or  allow 
Parliament  to  do  anything  prejudicial  to  Mary's 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  125 

claim  as  her  heir.  She  held  to  this  promise  long 
after  Mary  had  shown  herself  an  active  and  dan- 
gerous enemy.  Ostensibly,  the  Scottish  Queen  was1 
clamouring  only  for  the  right  of  succession,  but 
she  was  in  reality  plotting  to  hurl  her  sister 
Sovereign  from  her  Throne.  In  1562,  her  mar- 
riage to  her  cousin,  Lord  Darnley,  an  English  sub- 
ject and  a  Catholic,  led  to  a  revolt  of  the  Prot- 
estant Nobles,  under  the  Earl  of  Murray,  the 
Queen's  illegitimate  brother.  This  rebellion  was 
promptly  crushed  by  Mary,  who  drove  the  offend- 
ers into  England  as  refugees.  The  stabbing  of 
David  Rizzio,  Mary's  Italian  secretary,  by  the 
worthless  Darnley  and  a  company  of  Nobles 
aroused  the  Scottish  Queen's  hot  resentment. 
After  the  birth  of  a  son,  who  was  named  James,  a 
pretended  reconciliation  took  place  between  Mary 
and  her  husband,  who  had  fallen  ill.  But  Mary 
had  fallen  passionately  in  love  with  the  fierce  Earl 
of  Bothwell.  She  brought  Darnley  to  a  Royal 
dwelling,  Kirk-a-field,  and  visited  him  there  daily 
for  a  week  or  more.  One  night,  after  she  had  left 
him  to  return  to  her  Palace  of  Holyrood,  Kirk-a- 
field  was  blown  up  with  gun-powder,  and  the  bodies 
of  Darnley  and  his  page  were  found  near  by. 
They  appeared  to  have  been  murdered  in  an  at- 
tempt to  escape  from  the  building.  There  were 
strong  suspicions  that  Mary  knew  beforehand  of 
her  husband's  murder ;  at  any  rate  her  lover  Both- 
well  certainly  planned  the  deed,  if  not  actually 
perpetrated  it.  All  Scotland  was  roused  to  indig- 


126  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

nation  against  him.  Soon  after  this,  the  Queen 
went  to  Stirling,  where  she  was  seized  and  carried 
off  by  Bothwell,  with  her  own  consent,  it  is  gen- 
erally believed.  While  he  held  her  captive,  she 
married  him. 

The  parents  of  the  murdered  Darnley  appealed 
to  Queen  Elizabeth  for  vengeance.  She  at  once 
wrote  the  following  energetic  letter  to  the  Queen  of 
Scots :  "  For  the  love  of  God,  Madam,  use  such 
sincerity  and  prudence  in  this  case,  which  touches 
you  so  nearly,  that  all  the  world  may  have  reason 
to  judge  you  innocent  of  so  enormous  a  crime  — 
a  thing  which  unless  you  do,  you  will  be  worthily 
blotted  out  from  the  rank  of  Princesses,  and  ren- 
dered, not  undeservedly,  the  opprobrium  of  the 
vulgar;  rather  than  which  fate  should  befall  you, 
I  should  wish  you  an  honourable  sepulchre,  instead 
of  a  stained  life." 

By  her  actions,  Mary  roused  the  anger  of  all 
classes  of  her  subjects.  The  rebellion  ended  in  a 
fierce  battle,  Bothwell  was  driven  into  flight,  and 
the  Queen  seized  and  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of 
Loch  Leven. 

Queen  Elizabeth  then  sent  a  letter  to  Mary, 
blaming  her  marriage  with  the  notorious  Bothwell, 
but  offering  to  mediate  for  her,  as  far  as  possible, 
if  she  would  punish  the  murderer,  who  had  divorced 
his  lawful  wife  to  marry  her.  But  Mary  preferred 
to  relinquish  the  Throne  rather  than  Bothwell,  al- 
though she  was  aware  that  her  passionate  love 
for  him  was  not  returned. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  127 

When  Queen  Elizabeth  heard  that  the  Scotch 
were  proposing  to  try  to  execute  Mary  her  anger 
waxed  hot,  for  she  hated  rebels,  although  policy 
sometimes  forced  her  to  favour  them.  She  im- 
periously told  the  Scotch  Lords  that  if  they  de- 
posed or  punished  their  Sovereign,  she  would  take 
revenge  upon  them.  She  bade  them,  if  they  failed 
in  trying  to  persuade  her  to  do  what  was  right, 
"  remit  themselves  to  Almighty  God,  in  whose 
hands  only  Princes'  hearts  remain."  This  haughty 
language  angered  the  men  in  Scotland  who  fa- 
voured English  interests.  They  had  expected 
Elizabeth  to  approve  of  their  action  and  send  them 
the  money  which,  as  usual,  they  were  clamouring 
for.  Instead,  she  treated  them  as  rebels  and  se- 
cretly encouraged  the  Hamiltons  to  rescue  Mary 
by  force. 

But  Queen  Elizabeth  was  quick  to  see  what  ad- 
vantage could  be  gotten  out  of  this  situation. 
She  dispatched  Sir  Nicholas  Throckmorton  to 
Scotland  to  try  to  get  the  young  Prince  James 
confided  to  her  keeping.  If  she  could  once  get 
him  in  England,  she  would  have  had  a  son  and  heir 
with  which  to  satisfy  the  importunities  of  Parlia- 
ment, and,  at  the  same  time,  would  have  avoided 
marriage  which  was  so  distasteful  to  her.  Then, 
too,  she  would  have  a  strong  hold  upon  Mary,  in 
the  event  of  her  being  released,  and,  if  she  should 
be  deposed  or  executed,  she  might  rule  Scotland 
as  Regent.  But  the  Scotch  Lords  refused  to  send 
the  infant  Prince  to  England,  unless  Elizabeth 


128  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

would  formally  recognize  his  title  to  the  English 
succession.  This  condition  she  could  not  grant, 
and  so  Throckmorton's  attempt  was  unsuccessful. 
The  Scotch  also  refused  Queen  Elizabeth's  demand 
that  Mary  should  be  restored  unconditionally  and 
now  forced  her,  under  pain  of  instant  death,  to 
abdicate  in  favour  of  her  son,  and  to  appoint  Mur- 
ray Regent.  When  Queen  Elizabeth  was  informed 
of  this,  she  refused  to  acknowledge  Murray's  Re- 
gency and  wrote  to  Throckmorton :  *  "  Whatever 
suspicion  of  guilt  there  may  be  against  Queen 
Mary,  her  subjects  have  no  right  to  depose  her. 
Such  an  action  is  contrary  to  Scripture  and  un- 
reasonable, that  the  head  should  be  subject  to  the 
foot.  All  the  examples  produced  from  history 
are  taken  from  rebels ;  we  forbid  you  to  be  present 
at  the  Coronation  of  the  young  Prince." 

After  Murray  had  publicly  assumed  the  Regency, 
Mary  being  in  rigourous  confinement,  Elizabeth 
wrote  to  Throckmorton,f  "  The  Hamiltons  are 
right  that  they  will  not  acknowledge  the  new  gov- 
ernment till  Mary  has  voluntarily  abdicated ;  I  will 
do  what  I  can  for  her  liberty." 

France  now  courted  the  alliance  of  Murray  and 
offered  to  send  an  army  to  support  him.  But  he 
declined  French  aid,  preferring  to  wait  until  Queen 
Elizabeth's  anger  waned  and  she  became  once  more 
the  cool  statesman  of  old. 

In  1568,  Mary  escaped  from  Loch  Leven,  and, 

*  Von  Raumer's  State  Papers. 
fVon  Raumer. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  129 

after  the  defeat  of  Langside,  fled  to  England. 
She  had  long  viewed  the  Realm  of  the  English 
Queen  with  eager  longing,  for  she  firmly  believed 
if  she  appeared  there,  a  party  would  rally  around 
her  and  Queen  Elizabeth  would  be  hurled  from  her 
Throne.  When  she  was  in  prosperity  she  had  re- 
peatedly asked  permission  to  visit  England,  and 
Queen  Elizabeth's1  steady  refusal  had  strengthened 
her  illusion.  Mary,  now  anticipating  another 
refusal  from  Queen  Elizabeth  at  this  crisis,  did 
not  wait  for  the  permission  she  had  requested  by 
letter,  but  immediately  crossed  the  Solway  with 
about  twenty  attendants,  and  landed  in  Cumber- 
land. Necessity  did  not  force  her  to  this  haste, 
for  Regent  Murray  had  returned  to  Edinburgh, 
and  Lord  Herris  had  guaranteed  her  safety  for 
forty  days  at  Dundrennan.  It  was  her  desire  to 
undermine  the  Throne  of  the  only  Sovereign  who 
had  tried  to  help  her  that  impelled  her  hasty  and 
unauthorized  crossing  of  the  Solway.  She  was 
conducted  to  Carlisle  by  its  Deputy-Governor,  and 
from  there  wrote  at  once  to  the  Queen,  protesting 
her  innocence  of  the  crimes  she  was  charged  with, 
requesting  a  personal  interview,  and  asking  for 
money  and  clothes. 

Queen  Elizabeth  now  found  herself  saddled  with 
a  responsibility  she  had  not  looked  for,  and  which 
she  certainly  did  not  desire.  She  had  sympathized 
with  Mary  in  Scotland,  not  because  she  believed 
her  guiltless,  but  in  order  to  maintain  the  principle 
of  royal  authority,  founded  on  hereditary  succes- 


130  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

sion  by  primogeniture.  Consistently  with  this 
purpose,  she  still  regarded  the  Scottish  Queen  as 
her  presumptive  heiress,  in  spite  of  what  had  hap- 
pened, but  she  was  far  from  wishing  to  introduce 
into  her  Kingdom  such  a  firebrand  as  Mary  was. 
So  she  decided  that  Mary  must  be  restored  to  her 
Throne,  but  that  the  real  governing  should  be  in 
Murray's  hands  to  prevent  further  mischief.  Bur- 
leigh  also  desired  to  send  Mary  back  to  Scotland, 
but  as  Murray's  prisoner,  not  as  Queen. 

Elizabeth  sent  several  English  Lords  and  Ladies 
to  attend  the  Scottish  refugee  at  Carlisle;  she 
also  despatched  the  necessary  money  to  defray  her 
expenses,  taking  the  precaution  to  command,  how- 
ever, that  neither  Mary  nor  any  of  her  attendants 
should  be  allowed  to  escape  until  her  further  pleas- 
ure. Mary  began  to  complain  bitterly  of  the 
coolness  of  Elizabeth's  letters  and  at  her  long  de- 
lays in  granting  her  a  personal  interview;  at  the 
same  time  she  was  angling  for  an  alliance  with 
France,  although  the  English  Queen  had  offered  to 
assist  her  only  on  condition  that  she  would  not 
seek  French  aid. 

Queen  Elizabeth  decided  that  before  she  could 
come  to  any  reasonable  decision  in  regard  to  her 
troublesome  charge,  it  would  be  necessary  to  con- 
sult with  the  Scotch  Regent.  She  accordingly 
wrote  him,  informing  him  of  Mary's  arrival  and 
her  complaints  of  him  and  his  associates.  Murray 
was  willing  and  ready  to  accept  Queen  Elizabeth  as 
mediator,  but  Mary  was  very  reluctant  to  face 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  131 

an  investigation.  She  finally  agreed  to  this,  as 
Elizabeth  refused  to  admit  her  to  her  presence 
until  her  character  was  cleared. 

At  the  inquiry,  a  certain  silver  casket,  captured 
from  Bothwell,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
English  Council  by  the  leaders  of  the  Scotch  rebels. 
The  casket  contained  letters  and  other  documents, 
which  seemed  without  doubt  to  be  in  Mary's  hand- 
writing and  to  have  been  sent  by  her  to  Bothwell, 
before  her  husband's  murder.  They  showed  com- 
plete knowledge  of  all  the  plans  for  the  murder, 
together  with  a  treacherous  and  reckless  intention 
of  sacrificing  her  own  and  her  country's  interests 
to  the  infamous  Bothwell.  Mary  now  found  her- 
self the  accused  instead  of  the  accuser,  and 
abruptly  broke  off  the  negotiations,  thereby  prov- 
ing her  guilt  all  the  more  clearly.  As  the  English 
Council  believed  Mary's  guilt  proved  beyond  the 
shadow  of  a  doubt,  it  was  plainly  impossible  for 
Queen  Elizabeth  to  restore  her,  even  if  she  still 
desired  to.  The  negotiations  were  accordingly 
dropped  without  reaching  a  decision.  Mary  re- 
mained in  England  and  Murray  was  sent  home 
with  a  small  sum  of  money. 

Soon  after  this,  Pope  Pius  V  announced  that 
Queen  Elizabeth  was  a  heretic  and  had  forfeited 
the  Throne. 

Queen  Elizabeth's  refusal  to  set  Mary  at  liberty 
was  warmly  seconded  by  Burleigh,  who  ventured 
to  tell  her  that  "  she  would  be  abandoned  by  her 
best  servants,  if,  by  the  liberation  of  Queen  Mary, 


132  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

she  wilfully  exposed  her  person  and  her  Kingdom  to 
such  evident  and  too  certain  danger." 

Mary  was  now  endeavouring  to  have  her  marriage 
with  Bothwell  dissolved  in  order  that  she  might 
marry  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  head  of  the  Eng- 
lish Peerage.  She  was  eagerly  reaching  toward 
the  English  Crown.  Another  plot  was  headed  by 
the  Catholic  Nobles  of  the  north  to  depose  Eliza- 
beth, place  Mary  on  the  Throne,  and  marry  her 
to  Don  John  of  Austria.  The  Scottish  Queen  was 
the  very  heart  of  ever  thickening  intrigues,  cul- 
minating in  the  rebellion  of  the  Earls  of  West- 
moreland and  Northumberland,  which  was  promptly 
crushed  by  Queen  Elizabeth.  Northumberland  was 
executed,  Westmoreland  escaped  to  the  Nether- 
lands, where  he  died,,  and  Norfolk  wteis  safely 
lodged  in  the  Tower. 

In  1570  Murray  was  assassinated.  This  was  a 
great  grief  to  Queen  Elizabeth.  On  hearing  of 
his  death,  she  shut  herself  up  in  her  chamber,  and, 
with  a  burst  of  tears,  declared  she  had  lost  "  the 
best  friend  she  had  in  the  world."  The  new  Re- 
gent was  Lennox  and  she  found  it  necessary  to  give 
a  little  aid  to  the  young  King's  party,  which  was 
weakened  by  the  death  of  Murray. 

Mary  now  proposed  that  Elizabeth  liberate  her 
unconditionally.  For  this  purpose  she  wrote  her 
several  flattering  letters.  In  one  she  says,  "  I 
wish  you  knew  what  sincerity  of  love  and  affection 
are  in  my  heart  for  you."  But,  at  that  very  time, 
she  also  wrote  for  other  eyes  to  see,  "  the  Pope  is 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  133 

desired  to  forgive  her  for  writing  loving  and  sooth- 
ing letters  to  Elizabeth;  she  desires  nothing  more 
than  the  re-establishment  of  the  Catholic  religion 
in  England."  In  addition,  she  kept  up  a  corre- 
spondence with  the  party  of  the  rebels,  Westmore- 
land and  Northumberland,  and  caused  £1,500  to 
be  raised  for  their  relief,  writing  simultaneously  to 
Queen  Elizabeth,*  "  I  rejoice  that  you  have  taken 
so  much  interest  in  the  state  of  my  health.  By 
the  pleasure  of  God,  and  the  help  of  your  learned 
physicians,  I  am  perfectly  reconvalescent ;  never- 
theless, the  principal  care  and  continuance  of  my 
health  does  consist  that  I  might  stand  in  your  good 
favour." 

As  a  result  of  the  discovery  of  Mary's  connec- 
tion with  the  rebels,  her  renewed  plans  to  marry 
Norfolk,  and  her  attempt  to  escape  by  foreign 
or  domestic  aid,  she  was  put  under  much  stricter 
surveillance  at  Sheffield.  The  Earl  of  Shrewsbury, 
who  had  charge  of  her,  was  to  be  informed  when- 
ever she  walked  or  rode  out;  no  more  than  four 
of  her  attendants  were  to  accompany  her  armed, 
and  none  could  leave  the  town  without  permission. 

Queen  Elizabeth  allowed  the  friends  of  Mary, 
however,  to  send  her  whatever  she  needed  for  her 
clothing,  health  or  other  personal  uses,  besides 
sums  of  money.  She  permitted  her  to  keep  male 
and  female  attendants,  provided  they  were  ap- 
proved of  by  the  English  Council  or  the  Earl  of 
Shrewsbury.  She  was  always  to  have  liberty  to 

*  Von  Raumer. 


134  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

walk  out  when  she  pleased,  either  in  company  with 
the  Earl  or  others  that  he  deemed  suitable.  She 
continued  to  have  this  liberty  until  the  conduct  of 
herself  and  her  agents,  as  often  happened,  caused 
it  to  be  restricted.  She  was  to  have  as  many  at- 
tendants as  she  pleased,  on  the  condition  that 
Shrewsbury  did  not  have  cause  to  suspect  other 
such  intrigues  as  had  been  attempted  before  by 
several  of  her  attendants. 

Mary's  continued  intriguing  with  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk  brought  on  the  Ridolphi  plot.  Ridolphi 
was  an  Italian  banker  in  London,  and  a  secret 
agent  of  the  Pope.  For  two  years  he  had  kept 
up  a  treasonable  correspondence  with  Norfolk  and 
his  friends.  The  object  of  the  conspirators  was  to 
induce  Philip  of  Spain  to  lead  an  army  into  Eng- 
land ;  by  the  aid  of  this,  Mary  would  be  liberated 
and  marry  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  Elizabeth  was  to 
be  deposed  and  Mary  crowned,  and  Catholicism 
would  be  restored.  But  Philip  knew  the  strength 
of  the  English  Queen  and  that  his  great  rival, 
France,  was  humbly  suing  for  her  alliance  on  al- 
most any  terms  that  were  pleasing  to  her,  and  so 
he  refused  to  send  a  single  soldier  until  he  was 
assured  that  Elizabeth  had  been  first  assassinated 
or  imprisoned.  Almost  from  the  beginning  Bur- 
leigh  had  been  on  the  scent  of  this  plot.  In  1571, 
he  secured  definite  evidence  incriminating  Norfolk, 
Southampton,  the  Spanish  Ambassador,  the  Bishop 
of  Ross,  the  Queen  of  Scots,  and  two  other  Peers. 
Norfolk  was  again  sent  to  the  Tower,  and  the  other 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  135 

Nobles  arrested.  The  Spanish  Ambassador  was 
ordered  to  leave  England.  The  Bishop  made  full 
confession,  Mary's  liberty  was  restricted,  she  was 
confined  to  a  single  room  and  excluded,  for  a  time, 
from  all  communication  with  the  outside  world. 
The  universal  opinion  at  home  and  abroad  was  that 
she  would  be  speedily  tried  and  executed.  Her 
treasonable  acts  warranted  but  little  else.  The 
Scotch  became  more  embittered  than  ever  against 
her,  and  her  partisans  were  told  that  she  could 
never  be  restored.  The  casket  letters,  which  had 
been  kept  from  publication  by  the  desire  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  were  now  given  over  to  public  scrutiny. 

Queen  Elizabeth  wrote  to  Catherine  de'  Medici, 
"  In  Lord  Seaton's  papers,  I  have  found  such  mat- 
ter to  prove  the  earnest  contrivance  and  prosecu- 
tion of  her  (Mary's)  procedure  against  us."  The 
Queen  Mother  thereupon  decided  that  as  Mary 
was  so  dangerous  a  person,  she  and  her  son  would 
no  longer  importune  Elizabeth  for  her  liberty^ 

Norfolk  alone,  of  all  the  conspirators,  was 
brought  to  trial  for  his  repeated  offences.  Under 
any  other  Sovereign  but  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  was 
noted,  even  among  her  enemies,  for  her  clemency, 
all  the  other  Peers  would  undoubtedly  have  per- 
ished. Norfolk  was  found  guilty  and  sentenced 
to  execution.  He  had  acted  with  base  hypocrisy 
and  had  continued  his  nefarious  plotting,  after  he 
had  been  generously  excused  for  his  first  offence 
in  the  northern  rebellion. 

The  Queen  delayed  long  in  signing  the  death 


136  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

warrant.  She  had  reigned  fourteen  years  without 
executing  a  single  Noble  (Northumberland  at  that 
time  was  under  arrest  in  Scotland).  The  scaffold 
on  Tower  Hill  was  falling  to  pieces  from  disuse, 
and  it  would  be  necesary  to  erect  a  new  one.  Eliz- 
abeth was  loth  to  build  the  new  one.  Finally,  she 
yielded  to  the  repeated  demands  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  allowed  justice  to  take  its  course. 
Upon  the  scaffold,  Norfolk  said,  "  I  acknowledge 
that  my  Peers  have  justly  condemned  me  to  death, 
and  I  do  not  excuse  myself." 

Mary  now  began  to  complain  of  the  rigour  of 
her  imprisonment,  declared  that  her  health  was 
suffering  from  it,  and  that  she  was  innocent  of 
treason.  Queen  Elizabeth  replied  that  "  she  had 
received  so  many  wrongs  of  Mary,  her  life,  Crown 
and  Kingdom  were  in  such  danger  by  her  attempts, 
that  the  present  Parliament  had  frequently  de- 
sired her  to  fall  upon  such  ways  as  might  secure 
herself  from  such  dangerous  attempts  for  the 
future." 

At  this  Parliament,  which  Queen  Elizabeth  called 
in  May,  1572,  it  was  suggested  that  Mary  be  pre- 
vented from  succession  to  the  Crown,  and  that  if 
she  planned  treason  again  she  should  "  suffer  pains 
of  death  without  further  trouble  of  Parliament." 
It  was  to  be  considered  treason  if  she  consented 
to  any  attempt  to  liberate  her.  But  Queen  Eliza- 
beth was  not  ready  to  go  to  extremities  yet.  She 
was  still  determined  to  preserve  Mary,  as  she  had 
been  from  the  first,  in  spite  of  the  loudly  expressed 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  137 

disapproval  of  Parliament  and  the  Council.  She 
told  them  that  she  would  not  allow  the  Queen  of 
Scots  to  be  "  either  enabled  or  disabled  to  or  from 
any  manner  of  title  to  the  Crown  "  nor  would  she 
permit  "  any  other  title  to  the  same  whatsoever 
touched  at  all." 

There  were  now  many  violent  publications  issued 
against  Mary ;  Clergy,  Parliament,  and  people  were 
loudly  demanding  her  execution.  Queen  Elizabeth 
and  Burleigh  were  the  mildest  and  most  moderate 
of  all.  Her  Majesty  had  twice  refused  her  con- 
sent to  the  execution,  which  was  desired  and  ap- 
proved of  by  public  opinion,  and  still  persisted  in 
preserving  the  life  of  her  most  dangerous  foe. 
Even  Burleigh's  apprehensions  were  so  aroused 
that  he  wrote  to  Leicester,  "  If  Her  Majesty  will 
continue  her  delays  in  providing  for  her  own  surety 
by  just  means  given  to  her  by  God,  she  and  we 
all  shall  vainly  call  upon  God  when  the  calamity 
shall  fall  upon  us."  But  Elizabeth  continued  to 
treat  lightly  the  fears  of  her  ministers. 

The  next  ten  years  were  comparativey  free  from 
political  intrigues,  although,  in  1575,  Walsingham 
wrote  to  the  Earl  of  Sussex  concerning  a  con- 
spiracy against  the  Queen  and  complained  that 
"  she  makes  so  light  of  the  matter,  which  I  take 
to  be  a  kind  of  watch-word,  that  our  travail  therein 
will  be  of  no  purpose." 

In  the  meantime,  Mary  continued  her  assertions 
of  innocence  and  demands  for  liberation.  Her 


138  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

health  had  begun  to  suffer  from  her  long  impris- 
onment, and  she  had  difficulty  in  walking. 

In  1583,  the  plots  of  the  Jesuits  were  thicken- 
ing around  Queen  Elizabeth  and  Mary  was  intrigu- 
ing for  joint  sovereignty  in  Scotland  with  her 
son,  the  young  King,  who  had  been  declared  of  age 
at  thirteen.  French  aid  was  again  desired,  and  it 
was'  proposed  to  lead  a  combined  Scotch  and 
French  army  into  England,  where  it  would  be 
joined  by  the  English  Catholics'.  Elizabeth  would 
be  deposed  and  Mary  placed  on  the  Throne.  But 
James  realized  it  was  to  his  advantage  to  keep 
in  the  good  graces  of  the  English  Queen  and  he 
intended  to  do  so,  whatever  were  his  mother's 
plans. 

Queen  Elizabeth  viewed  the  formidable  plot  with 
intrepid  coolness,  although  her  entire  Council  ad- 
vocated and  urged  her  to  the  immediate  use  of 
force.  She  had  found  out  that  James  regarded  his 
mother  as  his  rival  for  the  Thrones  of  England 
and  Scotland,  and  that  he  really  desired  that  she 
continue  in  captivity.  She  had  also  discovered 
that  those  very  Scotch  Nobles,  on  whom  Mary  de- 
pended, were  prepared  to  resist  her  restoration  for 
their  own  interests.  Therefore,  when  she  saw  both 
the  English  and  French  party  in  Scotland  humbly 
suing  for  her  favour,  she  felt  it  would  be  a  safe  and 
cheap  policy  to  let  them  fight  it  out  among  them- 
selves. She  did  grant  a  moderate  pension  to 
James,  however,  to  keep  him  good-natured,  but 
not  a  penny  would  she  give  to  the  leaders  of  the 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  139 

Anglophiles,  for  she  knew  their  own  interests 
would  force  them  to  serve  her  who  was  the  cham* 
pion  of  their  religion. 

While  plots  against  the  Queen  were  agitating 
all  England,  it  had  become  the  custom  for  large 
numbers  of  people  to  throw  thems'elves  on  their 
knees  in  the  dirt  of  the  roads,  whenever  she  rode 
out,  pray  fervently  for  her  preservation,  and  loudly 
invoke  blessings  on  her  Royal  head  and  confusion 
to  the  Catholics.  A  scene  of  this  sort  occurred 
one  day  when  Queen  Elizabeth  and  Mauvissiere, 
the  French  Ambassador,  were  riding  from  Hamp- 
ton Court  to  London  in  November,  1583.  Her 
Majesty  was1  discussing  the  recent  discovery  of 
several  conspiracies  among  the  Jesuits,  "  When," 
says  Mauvissiere,  "  crowds  of  people  fell  on  their 
knees  by  the  way,  prayed  in  divers  manners,  and 
wished  her  a  thousand  blessings,  and  that  all  her 
wicked  enemies  may  be  discovered  and  punished; 
she  stopped  frequently,  and  thanked  them  for  all 
their  affection.  As  I  was  alone  with  her  (she  rode 
a  fine  horse)  amidst  this  crowd, *3foe  said,  *  I  see 
that  all  do  not  wish  me  evil.'  " 

All  negotiations  with  Mary  were  repeatedly 
broken  off  by  the  discovery  of  fresh  plots  against 
Queen  Elizabeth,  in  which  the  Scottish  Queen  was 
deeply  involved.  During  the  last  negotiations, 
while  Mary  was  pretending  to  be  frank  and  inno- 
cent, her  commissioner,  Morgan,  had  hired  a  man, 
named  Parry,  to  assassinate  the  Queen.  Mary 
admitted  that  she  had  given  Morgan  a  pension, 


140  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

but  would  not  acknowledge  her  participation  in 
his  guilt. 

In  the  meantime,  hot  disputes  had  been  arising 
between  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  Mary's  jailer, 
and  his  second  wife.  The  Countess  of  Shrews- 
bury was  fiercely  jealous  of  the  fair  prisoner  and 
spread  abroad  scandalous  reports  of  her,  which 
finally  reached  the  ears  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  who 
would  not  allow  Mary  to  be  slandered  with  impun- 
ity, but  instantly  ordered  an  investigation  of  the 
matter.  The  Countess  retracted  her  charges  and 
declared  she  did  not  at  all  believe  what  she  had  re- 
ported. 

In  a  letter  *  written  by  Mary,  she  says :  "  The 
Countess  of  Shrewsbury  was1  obliged  to  go  upon 
her  knees  in  the  presence  of  the  Queen  of  England 
and  some  principals  of  the  Council,  and  denied 
to  her  the  shameful  tales  by  herself  spread  against 
me." 

Mary,  however,  to  revenge  herself  on  the  Count- 
ess, with  whom  she  was  once  very  friendly,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  to  cause  annoyance  to  Elizabeth, 
very  injudiciously  repeated  to  Her  Majesty  of 
England  the  spiteful  things  the  Countess  had  said 
against  her. 

In  1585,  Sir  Amy  as  Paulet  was  appointed  jailer 
to  the  Scottish  Queen.  She  was  now  suffering 
with  chronic  and  neuralgic  maladies,  which  she  laid 
to  the  dampness  and  lack  of  conveniences'  in  her 
prison-house,  but  Paulet  says,  "  There  is  no  other 

*  Von  Raumer's  State  Papers. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

house  or  seat  in  the  neighbourhood  to  which  Mary 
could  be  moved."  In  spite  of  her  maladies  and  the 
vigilance  of  her  jailer,  she  continued  her  intrigues 
by  means  of  secret  ciphers. 

All  this1  time,  the  Jesuits,  undismayed  by  the 
severe  punishment  inflicted  upon  them,  persevered 
in  their  plots  against  the  Queen's  life  and  govern- 
ment. The  most  important  of  these  innumerable 
conspiracies  in  its  results  was  the  one  in  which  the 
two  Throckmortons,  George  and  Francis,  together 
with  Charles  Paget,  were  involved.  These  three 
men  were  carrying  on  a  treasonable  correspondence 
with  that  same  Morgan,  who  had  hired  the 
would-be  assassin,  Parry.  Francis  Throckmorton, 
when  put  upon  the  rack,  made  statements  which 
involved  the  Spanish  Ambassador,  Mendoza,  in  a 
plot  to  dethrone  Queen  Elizabeth:  Mendoza  in- 
dignantly denied  the  charges,  but  was  ordered  to 
leave  England  without  delay.  He  still  kept  up  a 
correspondence,  nevertheless,  with  Mary,  Queen  of 
Scots,  and  her  agents. 


XII 
HER  MAJESTY'S  SUITORS 

Queen  Elizabeth's  foreign  policy  was  to  keep 
England  as  long  as  possible  from  open  war  with 
the  two  great  rival  powers,  France  and  Spain,  and 
to  prevent  a  coalition  of  the  two  against  her. 
What  she,  in  particular  desired,  was  a  defensive 
alliance  with  the  former.  With  this  purpose  con- 
stantly in  mind,  she  kept  up  a  series  of  seemingly 
endless  marriage  negotiations  extending  over  a 
space  of  nearly  thirty  years,  completely  mystify- 
ing her  own  subjects  as  well  as  all  Europe  in  re- 
gard to  her  real  intentions.  Her  sex  gave  her  an 
.  advantage  over  the  masculine  rulers  of  Europe, 
and  she  did  not  scruple  to  use  this  advantage  to 
suit  her  purposes.  The  European  Princes,  against 
whom  she  was  pitted,  were  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to 
consider  her,  whether  as  a  weak,  amourous  woman, 
or  as  a  cool-headed  and  far  seeing  statesman. 
Elizabeth  played  her  cards  with  consummate  skill, 
and  took  pains  to  keep  her  opponents  in  doubt  as 
to  her  next  move. 

Philip  of  Spain  has  already  been  mentioned  as 
the  first  Royal  suitor  after  her  accession.  The 
Queen's  refusal  to  tie  herself  to  her  disagreeable 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  143 

and  arrogant  brother-in-law,  inspired  some  of  her 
own  subj  ects  with  hopes  of  succeeding  where  a  for- 
eigner had  failed.  Chief  among  these  eager  as- 
pirants for  the  hand  of  the  Virgin  Queen  were: 
the  elderly,  foppish  Earl  of  Arundel,  who  had  at 
first  been  foremost  in  the cfeaOi  cry  against  Eliza- 
beth when  she  was  Princess ;  Lord  Robert  Dudley ; 
"  and  a  very  handsome  youth,"  the  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford ;  also  "  a  very  handsome,  gallant  gentleman," 
Sir  William  Pickering.  Arundel,  the  premier 
Earl  of  England,  was  foremost  in  high  rank  and 
noble  descent,  but  a  widower,  twice  married  and 
well  advanced  in  years.  He  was  Lord  Steward  of 
the  Royal  household  and  so  had  many  opportuni- 
ties of  pressing  his  suit.  To  gain  the  great  prize  he 
sought,  he  was  ruining  himself  by  lavish  and 
ostentatious  gifts ;  he  borrowed  large  sums  of 
money  and  with  reckless  extravagance  scattered 
costly  jewels  among  the  ladies  of  honour.  The 
shrewd  young  Queen  fed  his  hopes  sufficiently  to 
arouse  the  jealousy  of  the  courtiers  and  to  obtain 
his  vote  and  influence  in  the  Council,  but  she  must 
have  laughed  inwardly  at  the  thought  of  becom- 
ing the  third  wife  of  the  empty-headed  old  coxcomb, 
who,  at  her  Coronation  ceremony  had  pompously 
strutted  about  "  with  a  silver  wand  a  yard  long, 
commanding  everybody,  from  the  Duke  of  Norfolk 
downwards,"  and  ever  since  had  been  offending  all 
the  courtiers  with  his  self -sufficient  grandeur. 
But, for  a  time, Pickering  seemed  to  be  the  favourite' 
candidate.  He  was  about  thirty-six  years  of  age, 


144  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

"  of  some  nobility  of  birth,  of  moderate  fortune, 
but  comely  person."  He  had  creditably  performed 
some  embassies  in  France  and  Germany,  and  had 
received  so  many  marks  of  favour  from  the  Queen 
that  he  was  regarded  by  all  the  people  as  her  fu- 
ture husband,  according  to  the  Italian  Ambassador. 
Sir  William  now  had  a  suite  of  rooms  in  the 
Palace,  took  upon  himself  the  airs  of  a  Prince,  and 
preferred  to  eat  alone  in  solitary  state  rather 
than  to  dine  with  the  other  men  of  J^is  rank.  His 
insolence  angered  all  the  greater  Nobles  and  he 
openly  quarreled  with  the  Earls  of  Bedford  and 
Arundel.  But  he  soon  vanished  from  the  scene, 
leaving  the  keener-witted  Dudley  as  the  foremost 
of  Her  Majesty's  English  suitors.  Queen  Eliza- 
beth declared  nevertheless,  that  "  she  would  die  a 
thousand  deaths  rather  than  marry  one  of  her  sub- 
jects." 

In  the  meantime,  Emperor  Ferdinand  of  Austria 
offered  his  son,  the  Archduke  Charles,  to  the  Queen. 
She  said  she  would  marry  no  man  she  had  not  seen 
and  "  she  would  rather  be  a  nun  than  marry  a 
man  she  did  not  know,  on  the  faith  of  portrait 
painters."  She  then  hinted  that  she  would  be 
glad  to  have  Charles  come  over  to  England  to  be 
inspected,  even  if  he  came  incognito.  But  when 
there  was  a  likelihood  that  the  Archduke  would 
actually  come,  Queen  Elizabeth  hastened  to  declare 
that  she  had  not  invited  him  and  was  not  bound 
to  marry  him.  The  fact  that  he  was  a  Catholic 
seemed  one  of  the  difficulties1,  although  it  was  the 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  145 

opinion  of  Philip's  agent,  Feria,  that  she  never 
meant  to  marry  and  was'  simply  amusing  her- 
self. The  Spanish  Bishop,  Quadra,  admitted  that 
he  could  not  understand  what  the  English  Queen 
did  intend,  nor  what  sort  of  a  husband  it  was,  if 
any,  that  she  really  desired.  She  had  once 
observed  that  she  wished  a  husband  who  would  be 
"  as  obedient  as  her  lap-dog,"  and  again,  that 
among  other  qualities  which  her  husband  must 
possess  is  that  "  he  should  not  sit  at  home  all  day 
among  the  cinders,  but  should  in  time  of  peace 
keep  himself  employed  in  warlike  exercises1." 
However,  to  keep  the  English  Catholics  in  hand,  I 
Queen  Elizabeth  continued  to  feed  the  Emperor  / 
Ferdinand  with  vague  hopes  and  to  flatter  and 
befool  his  dull-witted  Ambassador.  Meantime,  the 
Scotch  suggested  that  she  marry  the  Earl  of  Arran, 
heir-presumptive  to  the  Throne  of  Scotland.  She 
gave  no  decided  answer,  but  sent  for  him,  too,  to 
come  over  and  be  inspected.  To  Elizabeth's  prob- 
able relief,  he  turned  out  to  be  an  impossible  hus- 
band, for  he  was  subject  to  spells  of  insanity.  So 
she  declined  the  offer,  but  in  courteous  terms, 
thanking  the  Scotch  Nobles  for  their  good-will  in  / 
/offering  her  "  the  choicest  person  they  had." 

The  King  of  Sweden,  who  was  of  the  same  re- 
ligion as  the  English  Queen,  offered  her  his  heir, 
Prince  Eric.  His  brother,  John,  Duke  of  Fin- 
land, a  man  of  handsome  person  and  pleasing 
manners,  was  sent  to  plead  his  cause.  He  was  met 
and  welcomed  at  Colchester,  in  the  name  of  the 


146  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Queen,  by  the  Earl  of  Oxford  and  Lord  Robert 
Dudley  and  was1  conducted  by  them  to  London. 
There  he  was  given  a  princely  reception  by  a 
company  of  Lords  and  Ladies  and  thence  proceeded 
to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester's  Palace,  which  had 
been  assigned  as  his  abode.  A  week  later,  he  came 
by  water  to  the  Court  and  was  received  in  the 
Presence  Chamber  by  the  Queen,  with  due  honours 
and  great  cordiality.  Upon  all  his  journeys  to 
the  Court,  he  scattered  money  freely  among  the 
populace,  saying,  "  He  gave  silver,  but  his  brother 
would  give  gold." 

j  Queen  Elizabeth  as  usual  would  give  no  definite 
Answer,  but  expressed  her  customary  desire  to  see 
the  Royal  Eric  and  judge  for  herself  of  his  good 
qualities.  She  sent  him  a  message  that  "  he 
should  be  welcome,  but  she  could  not  yet  persuade 
herself  to  change  her  single  life,  which  was  most 
pleasing  to  her,  for  a  married  life."  She  bade 
him  "  try  her  kindness  in  any  other  matter,  and 
though  he  failed  in  this  suit,  yet  he  was  not  to 
think  his  love  ill-bestowed." 

Upon  the  death  of  the  aged  King  of  Sweden, 
Eric,  who  succeeded  to  the  Throne,  summoned  his 
brother  home,  for  he  had  become  jealous  of  him 
and  shrewdly  surmised  that  he  was  wooing  the 
capricious  Queen  of  England  on  his  own  account. 
Eric  now  sent  an  Ambassador  to  renew  the  negotia- 
tions, and  to  present  to  Her  Majesty  from  him 
eighteen  large  horses  and  several  chests  of  gold  and 
silver  money.  The  intimation  that  the  Royal 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  147 

suitor  himself  "  would  quickly  follow  in  person,  / 
to  lay  his  heart  at  her  feet,"  caused  considerable/ 
perplexity  to  Elizabeth  and  her  Council  about  the 
manner   of  receiving  in   the   Palace   the   Swedish 
King,  who  was  accounted  the  handsomest  man  in 
Europe,  "  the  Queen's  Majesty  being  a  maid." 

Bishop  Jewel  observes  that  Eric  and  the  Arch- 
duke Charles  "  are  courting  at  a  most  marvelous 
rate."  Queen  Elizabeth,  perhaps  to  dampen  the 
ardour  of  Eric,  whose  suit  was  becoming  too  urgent 
for  her  purposes,  seemed  now  to  encourage  the 
Austrian,  and  remarked  that  "  among  the  many 
most  honourable  matches  propounded,  none  was 
more  honourable  than  this  with  Charles  of  Austria, 
but  neither  the  storm  of  danger  before,  nor  the 
fair  gale  of  honour  now  could  remove  her  from  the 
course  of  life  begun.  Yet  not  so  far  that  she 
would  flatly  renounce  a  wedded  life,  and  she  hoped 
that  God,  upon  whose  bounty  she  relied  wholly, 
would,  in  these  and  other  matters,  direct  her  coun- 
sels to  her  own  and  her  people's  safety."  The 
King  of  Denmark  and  the  second  son  of  the  King 
of  Saxony  were  among  the  Queen's  numerous 
suitors.  While  she  was  amusing  herself  with  these 
courtships,  Adolphus,  Duke  of  Holstein,  was  sent 
over  by  his  uncle,  the  Danish  King,  to  try  his  luck 
with  the  Maiden  Monarch.  He  had  been  encour- 
aged to  come  by  a  letter  Queen  Elizabeth  wrote 
him,  in  which  she  "  most  lovingly  promised  him 
kindness,"  and  wished  that  "  he  were  joined  to  Eng- 
land in  some  nearness1  as  he  had  been  in  time  past 


148  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

to  the  Spaniards."  He  was  young,  handsome,  and 
rely  m  -earnest,  and  it  was  rumoured  among 
the  Court  gossips  "  that  Her  Majesty  was  very- 
fond  of  him."  Nevertheless  he  was  rejected  like 
the  rest  of  her  wooers,  but  she  treated  him  with 
great  distinction,  conferred  upon  him  the  Order 
o£jthe  Garter,  gave  him  a  yearly  pension,  and, 
by  her  kindness,  bound  him  to  her  as  a  firm  friend. 
After  the  return  of  Holstein,  Jewel  writes,  "The 
Swede  is  reported  to  be  always  coming,  and  even 
now  to  be  on  his  voyage  and  on  the  eve  of  landing ; 
but,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  he  will  not  stir  a  foot." 
After  all,  Eric  never  came,  believing  that  his  jour- 
ney would  be  useless.  He  finally  married  one  of 
his  own  subjects. 

It  was  generally  believed  in  England  that  Queen 
Elizabeth  refused  her  Royal  suitors  because  she 
had  promised  to  marry  Dudley,  although  she  de- 
clared that  "  she  was  as  free  from  any  engagement 
to  marry  as*  on  the  day  of  her  birth,  no  matter 
what  the  world  might  think  or  say,  but  she  had 
quite  made  up  her  mind  to  marry  nobody  whom 
she  had  not  seen  or  known,  and  therefore  she  might 
be  obliged  to  marry  in  England,  in  which  case  she 
thought  she  could  find  no  person  more  fitting  than 
Lord  Robert." 

The  pretentions  of  Dudley  aroused  the  jealous 
ire  of  the  old  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  open  quarrels 
broke  out  between  these  two  Nobles,  in  which  their 
servants  and  followers  warmly  engaged,  so  that 
the  Court  was  filled  with  the  sound  of  their  brawls 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  149 

and  Her  Majesty's  name  was  bandied  about  among 
them  in  a  manner  derogatory  to  her  royal  dignity. 

In  1564,  Catherine  de'  Medici  suggested  a  mar- 
riage between  her  son,  Charles  IX,  the  boy-king  of 
France,  who  was  about  sixteen,  and  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, who  was  now  thirty-one.  The  Queen  Mother 
instructed  her  Ambassador,  Paul  de  Foys,  to  urge 
Leicester's  suit  if  Elizabeth  did  not  favour  the 
marriage  with  Charles,  in  order  that  no  powerful 
foreign  Prince  might  be  her  consort. 

Queen  Elizabeth  received  the  Envoy  in  her  Privy 
Chamber,  as  he  had  told  her  that  he  had  something 
of  the  utmost  importance  to  communicate  to  her, 
and  that  he  wished  to  disclose  it  to  her  in  a  most 
secluded  place.  He  read  her  Catherine's  letter, 
which  was  filled  with  fuls'ome  praises  of  the  Eng- 
lish Queen.  The  wily  Catherine,  who  knew  how 
fastidious  the  Virgin  Queen  was,  took  pains  to  as- 
sure her  that  she  would  be  well  pleased  both  with 
the  body  and  mind  of  her  son.  The  Maiden  Maj- 
esty of  England  blushed  several  times  during  the 
reading  of  this  flattering  letter.  At  its  conclusion, 
she  told  de  Foys,  with  much  effusion,  that  she  was 
highly  honoured  by  the  offer  and  regretted  that 
she  was  not  ten  years  younger.  She  feared  the 
disadvantages  which  would  result  from  their  dis- 
parity of  ages,  and  said  she  "  would  rather  die 
than  be  some  day  despised  and  abandoned  as  her 
sister  Mary  had  been  by  the  Prince  of  Spain." 
De  Foys  sought  to  reassure  her,  but  Elizabeth  in- 
sisted that  she  could  not  risk  being  scorned  and 


150  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

abandoned.  She  said  her  subjects  would  agree  to 
her  wishes,  although  they  would  prefer  her  to 
choose  an  Englishman,  but  the  only  one  suita- 
ble was  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  "  and  he,"  she  af- 
firmed, "  is  further  from  it  than  the  east  from  the 
west.  As  for  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  I  have  al- 
ways loved  his  virtues,  but  the  aspiration  to  honour 
and  greatness  which  is  in  me,  could  not  suffer  him 
as  a  companion  and  a  husband."  She  added,  smil- 
ing, that  her  neighbour,  Mary  Stuart,  "  was 
younger  than  she,  and  might  perhaps  please 
Charles  better."  When  de  Foys  asked  her  to 
keep  this  affair  secret,  she  replied  that  "  she  had 
sufficiently  proved  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary 
that  she  knew  how  to  keep  silence ;  if  she  had  been 
discovered  in  anything,  it  would  have  cost  her  her 
life."  She  asked  for  a  few  days  in  which  to  re- 
flect, and  then  dismissed  de  Foys. 

Queen  Elizabeth,  however,  discussed  the  offer 
with  Cecil,  who  raised  many  objections.  Some 
days  later  she  sent  for  the  French  Ambassador, 
and  told  him  there  were  three  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  the  marriage:  First,  the  disparity  of  ages; 
then,  the  King  could  not  live  in  England,  nor  she 
in  France;  lastly,  the  English  feared  the  power 
and  influence  of  the  French.  De  Foys  tried  to 
refute  these  arguments,  but  the  Queen  delayed  the 
negotiations,  and  finally  broke  them  off.  The 
rumour  of  her  contemplated  alliance  with  France 
had  brought  her  just  what  she  had  hoped  it  would 
do  —  another  offer  from  Austria  of  the  Archduke 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  151 

Charles.  She  invited  his  Ambassador,  Swetkowitz, 
to  dinner  in  her  private  apartments,  and  played 
before  him  on  the  lute  and  the  spinnet,  which  was 
a  high  mark  of  favour.  De  Foys,  fearing  that  Her 
Majesty  was  really  in  earnest  this  time,  urged  her 
to  accept  the  young  French  king.  "  You  have 
under  your  hand,  in  the  person  of  Charles  IX,  a 
veritable  shield,  why  don't  you  take  him? "  he 
asked.  Queen  Elizabeth  quickly  replied  that  "  she 
did  not  deem  herself  worthy  of  such  a  treasure." 

Then,  in  accordance  with  Catherine's1  injunc- 
tions, the  perplexed  Ambassador  urged  her  to  ac- 
cept Leicester  as  a  husband.  "  I  have  not  yet 
decided  whom  I  shall  marry,"  she  replied,  "  but, 
whoever  he  may  be,  though  he  were  a  man  of  but 
small  consequence,  he  would  gain  much  power  by 
the  marriage  and  be  enabled,  if  he  were  so  minded, 
to  execute  dangerous  plans.  I  have,  therefore,  de- 
termined not  to  give  up  to  my  future  husband  any 
portion  of  my  power,  possessions  or  revenue. 
Though  you  counsel  me  to  marry  one  of  my  sub- 

;  jects,  I  shall  not  accept  your  advice  in  the  event 
of  my  marrying.  If,  however,  I.  do  think  of 

^marrying,  it  is  as  if  some  one  were  rending  my 
heart  from  my  body,  so  adverse  am  I  to  it  by 
nature,  and  nothing  but  the  welfare  of  my  people 
couM  constrain  me  to  it."  To  awe  France,  she 
hinted  to  him  that  she  could  at  that  time  marry 
a  King  or  powerful  Prince,  if  she  pleased. 

About  three  months  later,  the  Queen's  favour 
and  friendship  for  Leicester  had  increased  to  such 


152  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

a  degree  that  he  himself  boldly  told  Cecil  that  he 
aspired  to  her  hand,  and  believed  he  had  a  good 
chance  of  success.  Upon  learning  this,  Catherine 
and  Charles  asked  Queen  Elizabeth  to  send  Leices- 
ter to  France  for  a  time.  They  wished  to  cement 
their  own  interests  with  this  rising  star.  The  Earl 
stated  to  Elizabeth  that  he  "  ardently  desired  to 
go  and  humbly  requested  her  permission."  But 
Her  Majesty  was  angry  and  suspicious  at  his  eager- 
ness to  visit  France,  and  said  it  would  not  be  con- 
ducive to  the  maintenance  of  her  dignity  if  she 
sent  "  a  groom  to  so  great  a  Prince."  To  soften 
this  ungracious  refusal,  she  added,  with  a  smile, 
"  I  cannot  live  without  seeing  you  every  day,  for 
you  are  like  my  little  dog,  as  soon  as  people  see 
him  anywhere,  they  say  that  I  am  coming,  and 
when  they  see  you,  they  may  say  likewise  that  I 
am  not  far  off." 

According  to  de  Foys,  the  Queen  promised  to 
give  Leicester  a  definite  answer  to  his  suit 
by  Candlemas,  1565.  Nevertheless1,  Candlemas 
passed  by  without  the  promised  decision,  and  de 
Foys  writes  that  the  Earl  of  Ormond  is  now  in 
high  favour  and  Leicester  very  apprehensive.  The 
Archduke  Charles  was  his  most  formidable  rival, 
but  there  were  two  strong  objections  to  him:  his 
religion,  and  the  fact  that  he  would  have  to  be 
dependent  on  the  Queen  for  his  income.  She  com- 
plained that  she  did  not  care  "  to  marry  a  man 
whom  she  would  have  to  feed,  and  let  the  world 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  153 

say  she  had  taken  a  husband  who  could  not  afford 
to  support  himself." 

There  were  various  difficulties  in  the  way  of  re- 
ligion, the  Queen  was  willing  to  allow  him  to  have 
Mass  privately  in  his  own  chamber,  but  insisted 
that  he  must  conform  outwardly  to  the  Church  of 
England  and  accompany  her  publicly  to  Protest- 
ant service.  Cecil,  Sussex,  Bacon  and  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk  urged  her  to  marry  the  Archduke  and 
settle  the  succession,  while  Leicester  urged  his 
own  suit  so  ardently  that  the  Queen  told  Sussex 
"  Robert  pressed  her  so  that  he  did  not  leave  her  a 
moment's1  peace."  By  favouring  alternately  the 
Archduke  and  Leicester,  Queen  Elizabeth  skilfully 
played  off  France  against  Spain,  and  Protestant 
/  against  Catholic,  at  the  same  time  escaping  a  j 
husband.  Leicester's  suit  was  warmly  seconded  I 
by  France,  since  Philip  of  Spain  supported  the 
Austrian  match,  although  the  Spanish  Ambassador 
privately  assured  Leicester  of  Philip's  good-will 
toward  him,  when  it  was  seen  that  the  Austrian 
Emperor's  terms  were  really  impossible.  When- 
ever matters  did  not  appear  to  be  going  to  Leices- 
ter's liking  he  would  go  away  in  a  fit  of  the  sulks', 
whereupon  the  Queen  would  recall  him  and  flatter 
him  into  good  humour  again.  The  quarrels  be- 
tween him  and  his  enemies  became  so  bitter  that 
Elizabeth  imperiously  insisted  upon  his  making 
friends  with  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  and  also  forced 
him  into  a  hollow  reconciliation  with  his  hand- 


/ 


f 


154  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

some  young  rival,  Ormond.  The  Court  had  be- 
come a  hot-bed  of  intrigue  and  uncertainty. 

In  August,  1566,  Leicester,  with  smiles  and 
tears,  tells  La  Forest,  who  was  then  French  Am- 
bassador, that  he  doesn't  know  whether  to  hope 
or  fear  and  that  he  is  more  uncertain  than  ever 
whether  the  Queen  will  marry  or  not,  and,  if  she 
does,  so  many  great  Princes  are  wooing  her  that 
he  fears  for  himself.  Later  on,  speaking  more 
openly,  he  declares  his1  firm  belief  is  that  she  will 
never  marry,  for  he  has  known  her  from  the  time 
she  was  eight  years  old,  and  she  has  always  de- 
clared that  she  would  remain  unmarried.  "  But," 
he  added,  "  should  she  happen  to  decide  upon 
marrying,  and  to  choose  an  Englishman,  I  am 
almost  assured  that  she  would  choose  no  other 
than  me;  at  least,  Her  Majesty  has  done  me  the 
honour  to  tell  me  so  alone  several  times,  and  I 
stand  as  high  in  her  favour  now  as  ever." 

When  Parliament  met  mTJ3c_tober,_  1566,  both 
Houses,  in  spite  of  Cecil's  efforts1  to  prevent,  drew 
up  and  presented  to  Her  Majesty  a  petition,  en- 
treating her  either  to  marry  or  name  her  successor. 
Queen  Elizabeth  heard  them  through  with  marked 
displeasure  and  impatience,  and,  in  the  spirit  of 
Henry  VIII,  ordered  them  to  "  attend  to  their  own 
duties  and  she  would  perform  hers."  She  was 
highly  indignant  when  the  Commons  passed  a  vote 
that  the  bill  for  the  supplies  she  needed  should 
be  incorporated  with  a  bill  for  settling  the  suc- 
cession. So  she  sent  for  the  leaders  of  both 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  155 

Houses  and  poured  upon  them  the  full  torrent  of 
her  wrath,  telling  them  that  "  she  did  not  choose 
that  her  grave  should  be  dug  while  she  was  yet 
alive ;  that  the  Commons  had  acted  like  rebels,  and 
the  Lords  might  pass  a  similar  vote  if  they  pleased, 
but  their  votes  were  but  empty  breath  without  her 
Royal  assent." 

The  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  foremost  Peer  in 
England,  was  overwhelmed  and  crushed  by  Her 
Majesty's  vehement  anger.  She  called  him 
"  traitor,"  "  conspirator,"  and  many  other  like 
names.  The  poor  Duke,  completely  humiliated, 
could  only  stammer  out  excuses  for  not  asking  her 
pardon  since  he  had  offended  her  so.  Then,  dis- 
missing the  embarrassed  Norfolk,  the  irate  Queen 
received  in  like  manner  Leicester,  Northampton, 
Pembroke  and  Howard.  Pembroke,  who  ventured 
to  remonstrate  with  her  upon  her  treatment  of 
Norfolk,  she  termed  a  "swaggering  trooper  "  and 
"  an  imbecile  who  didn't  know  what  he  was  talk- 
ing about."  Northampton  she  reproached  for  his 
recent  divorce,  bidding  him  look  after  his  own 
matrimonial  tangles  and  not  "  mince  words  "  with 
her.  Turning  to  Leicester,  she  said,  reproach- 
fully, "  Do  you,  too,  abandon  me  ?  "  "I  am  ready 
to  die  for  you,"  he  cried.  "  Who  asks  you  to 
die?"  she  retorted  sharply;  "that  is  not  to  the 
purpose." 

After  this  stormy  interview,  the  Lords  requested 
the  Spanish  Ambassador  to  urge  their  angry  Sov- 
ereign to  decide  definitely  upon  the  Archduke 


156  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Charles.  The  next  day,  she  summoned  the  Am- 
bassador and  complained  bitterly  to  him  of  the 
pressure  put  upon  her  by  her  ministers.  She  was 
particularly  bitter  against  Leicester,  whom  she  had 
banished  from  her  presence.  Heated  debates  and 
party  recriminations  continued  until  the  Queen, 
by  alternate  threats  and  flattery,  bent  both  Houses 
of  Parliament  completely  to  her  will  and  got  her 
subsidies  voted,  without  declaring  her  successor. 
An  extra  subsidy  was  offered  her  if  she  would  name 
her  successor,  but  this  she  refused  to  do,  saying 
that  she  would  be  content  with  half,  since  she  bef- 
lieved  that  "  money  in  her  subjects'  coffers  was 
as  good  as  in  her  own."  This  gracious  observa- 
tion so  delighted  the  now  cowed  and  obedient  mem- 
bers of  Parliament  that  they  hastened  to  offer  a 
really  generous  supply,  unfettered  by  any  condi- 
tions whatsoever.  As  soon  as  Queen  Elizabeth 
had  gained  what  she  wanted,  she  dissolved  Parlia- 
ment on  January  15th.  On  this  day  she  made  a 
short  speech  from  the  Throne,  after  the  Lord 
Keeper  Bacon  had  finished  his  address. 

"  Whereas,  Princes'  words  do  enter  more  deeply 
into  men's  ears  and  minds,  take  these  things  from 
our  own  mouth,"  she  said,  with  majestic  dignity, 
"  Do  ye  think  that  we  neglect  your  safety  and  se- 
curity as  to  the  succession,  or  that  we  have  a  will 
to  infringe  your  liberty  ?  Be  it  far  from  us.  We 
never  thought  it.  But  indeed  we  thought  good 
to  call  you  back  when  you  were  running  into  a  pit. 
Everything  has1  his  fit  reason.  Ye  may,  perad- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  157 

venture,  have  a  wiser  Prince,  but  a  more  loving 
towards  you  ye  shall  never  have.  For  our  part, 
whether  we  may  see  such  a  Parliament  again,  we 
know  not;  but  for  you,  take  ye  heed  lest  ye  pro- 
voke your  Prince's  patience.  Nevertheless,  of  this 
be  assured,  that  we  think  very  well  of  most  of  you, 
and  do  embrace  every  one  of  you  with  our  former 
kindness,  even  from  our  heart." 
/  In  1568,  the  Austrian  match  was  practically 
/  abandoned,  although  an  attempt  to  revive  the  ne-  / 
/  gotiations  was  made  in  1570,  but  the  Archduke 
was  already  engaged  to  a  Catholic  Princess.  The 
Emperor  sent  back  a  polite  refusal  to  the  English 
Queen,  some  compliments  and  a  silver  vessel, 
hoping  that  "  she  would  henceforward, regard  the 
Archduke  in  £hlF~TigHt  of  a  brother .^__jQueg.ii 
Elizabeth's  matrimonial  professions  were  coining 
to  be  considered  as  mere  convenient  pretences. 
The  Maiden  Monarch,  however,  was  greatly  dis- 
pleased at  the  refusal  of  her  offer,  which  she  had 
no  idea  of  seriously  adhering  to,  and  declared  that 
the  Emperor  had  offered  her  such  an  insult  that  if 
she  were  a  man  "she  would  have  defied  him  to 
single  combat."  Her  anger  against  the  Emperor 
was1  increased,  no  doubt,  by  the  fact  that  just 
before  this  he  had  betrothed  his  second  daughter 
to  Charles  IX,  whom  she,  Elizabeth,  had  definitely 
refused,  saying  that  he  was  "  too  big  and  too 
little." 

In  August  of  this  year,  the  long  civil  war  in 
France  was  brought  to  an  end  by  the  treaty  of  St. 


158  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Germain  between  Charles  IX  and  the  Huguenots. 
When  France  was  at  peace,  Queen  Elizabeth  was 
always  apprehensive  that  the  Guises  and  the  Cath- 
olic party  in  France  would  carry  out  their  cherished 
scheme  of  rescuing  the  Queen  of  Scots  by  force 
with  the  aid  of  the  Pope,  then  marry  her  to  the 
Duke  of  Anjou,  the  brother  of  Charles  IX,  and 
place  her  on  the  English  Throne.     Accordingly, 
Queen  Elizabeth  was  disposed  to  look  with  favour 
upon  the  proposal  of  the  two  great  Huguenot  No- 
bles, the  Vidame  de  Chartres  and  Cardinal  Chatil- 
lon,    that   she   herself   marry   Anjou.     When   the 
Queen  Mother  was  approached  on  the  subject,  she 
ordered   her   Ambassador,   La   Mothe-Fenelon,   to 
push  the  matter  forward  at  every  opportunity,  al- 
though she  suspected  that  this  was  only  another 
trick   of   Elizabeth's   to   prolong  the   negotiations 
and  make  use  of  the  French  in  the  meantime.      She 
added  that  if  the  Queen  of  England  had  a  daughter 
or  heiress  she  would  be  a  more  suitable  match  for 
Anjou  than  the  Queen  herself.      Befpre  writing  to 
Catherine,   La   Mothe   had   interviewed  Leicester, 
and,  hinting  that  a  marriage  had  been  suggested 
between  the  Queen  and  Anjou,  asked  his  aid  in 
the  matter,  saying  that  the  French  regarded  him 
as  their  best  friend.     Leicester  replied  that  he  had 
always  been  opposed  to  the  Austrian  alliance,  and 
that  as  Queen  Elizabeth  had  made  up  her  mind  not 
to  marry  a  subject,  he  would  be  willing  to  sacrifice 
his  own  chances  and  favour  Anjou.     He  said  the 
matter  could  be  discussed  at  length  when  the  Court 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  159 

returned  to  London,  but,  in  the  meantime,  it  would 
be  well  to  speak  to  the  Queen  privately  about  it. 
So  he  introduced  La  Mothe  into  the  Presence  at 
Hampton  Court. 

Queen  Elizabeth  had  evidently  been  forewarned 
of  the  Ambassador's  visit,  for  she  was  dressed  even 
more  elaborately  than  usual.  When,  after  a  few 
words  of  preamble,  Anjou  was  proposed  to  her, 
she  made  an  ambiguous  reply,  saying  that  she  was 
growing  old,  and,  if  it  were  not  for  the  lack  of  an 
heir,  she  would  be  ashamed  to  think  of  marriage, 
as  she  was  one  of  those  women  whom  men  wish 
to  marry  for  their  Kingdom,  and  not  for  their  per- 
sons. 

Catherine  had  commanded  La  Mothe  to  preserve 
strict  secrecy  in  the  matter,  but  Elizabeth  dis- 
cussed it  with  her  ladies  and  others  of  the  Court, 
so  it  soon  became  common  talk. 

In  another  interview  with  the  Ambassador, 
Queen  Elizabeth  appeared  very  favourable  to  the 
match,  but  complained  of  the  disparity  of  ages  — 
she  was  thirty-seven  and  Anjou  was  just  twenty. 
"  So  much  the  better  for  you,"  said  La  Mothe, 
laughing.  On  another  occasion,  he  praised  the 
happiness  of  Charles  IX  with  his  Austrian  bride 
and  advised  all  Princesses,  who  were  desirous  of 
marital  bliss,  to  take  a  husband  from  the  House  of  • 
France.  The  Queen  thereupon  cited  some  striking 
examples  to  the  contrary,  and  said,  "  I  want  my 
i  husband  not  only  to  honour  me  as  Queen,  but  to 
•love  me  for  myself."  La  Mothe  assured  her  that 


r 


160  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Anjou  would  do  both,  and  she  replied  she  had  al- 
ways heard  him  spoken  of  with  high  praises. 

The  Queen,  after  some  demurs,  referred  the 
matter  to  her  Council.  One  member  only  re- 
marked that  the  Duke  seemed  rather  young  for  the 
Queen,  but  did  not  urge  his  objections,  as  Her 
Majesty  appeared  highly  offended.  The  other 
ministers  were  silent,  overcome  with  surprise  that 
their  critical  Mistress  should  be  so  determined  on 
this  marriage. 

The  Queen  now  would  talk  of  nothing  else;  she 
;ussed  it  fully  with  Ladies  Cobham  and  Clinton, 
fand  the  whole  Court  was  filled  with  tales  of  the 
Duke's1  personal  attractions  and  his  reported  gal- 
lantries. Cecil  favoured  the  marriage,  and  Wal- 
singham  was  sent  as  Ambassador  to  France  and 
commanded  by  the  Virgin  Queen  to  send  back  a 
description  of  her  youthful  suitor.  He  appears 
to  have  been  good-looking  enough,  but  completely 
dominated  by  voluptuousness  and  the  influence  of 
the  monks,  who  exhorted  him  not  to  marry  "  a 
heretic  woman." 

The  chief  difficulty  in  the  way  of  the  marriage 
appeared  to  be  the  matter  of  religion.     Although 
(Elizabeth  this  time  seemed  to  be  bent  upon  marry- 
j  ing,  she  persistently  declared  she  would  not  allow 
'  Anjou  the  public  exercise  of  his  religion.     Cath- 
erine became  suspicious  of  the  Queen's  real  inten- 
tions and  would  not  gratify  her  desire  that  Anjou 
should  be  sent  into  England  to  be  inspected.     The 
Duke  himself  said,  "  I  fear  that  the  Queen  of  Eng- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  161 

land  has  no  other  aim  but  that  of  amusing  us.  Un- 
less I  get  a  decisive  reply,  I  do  not  wish  to  advance 
a  step  further." 

But  Queen  Elizabeth  would  give  no  decisive 
answer,  although  professing  great  eagerness  for 
the  marriage.  La  Mothe  begged  her  to  reply  to 
a  letter  Anjou  had  written  her.  For  a  long  time 
she  refused,  alleging  that  "  the  pen  would  fall  from 
her  hands  and  she  would  not  know  what  to  say 
to  the  Duke,  because  she  had  never  written  to  any 
of  the  Princes  who  had  sought  her  hand,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Archduke  Charles,  and  then  in 
terms  far  removed  from  marriage."  Jvhe  finally 
yielded  and  wrote  a  letter  which  was  a  curious  mix- 
ture of  shrewd  statecraft  and  amourous  frivolity, 
praising  the  beauty  of  the  Duke,  and,  above  all,  the 
beauty  of  his  hand,  which  was  considered  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  France.  Sighing,  she  said, 
"  For  seven  or  eight  years  his  good  looks  will  in- 
crease, while  I  shall  be  old." 

She  then  asked  the  Ambassador  if  he  had  spoken 
to  Anjou  of  her  foot,  her  arm,  and  other  things 
which  she  would  not  mention.  She  admitted  softly 
that  she  found  the  Duke  "  very  desirable."  La 
Mothe,  with  courtier-like  insinuation,  observed 
that  "  both  were  very  desirable,"  and  that  "  it  was 
a  pity  they  could  not  have  become  sooner  pos- 
sessors of  each  other's  perfections,"  and  then  he 
departed,  full  of  hope  that  his  mission  would  suc- 
ceed. 

But  the  next  morning,  the  Queen's  mood  had 


162  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

changed;  she  received  him  with  an  ominous  frown, 
and  said  that  she  had  just  heard  that  a  great 
Nobleman  at  the  French  Court  had  remarked,  be- 
fore many  people,  that  she  had  an  incurable  dis- 
ease in  one  of  her  legs,  and  that  this  would  be 
an  excellent  excuse  for  Anjou,  after  the  mar- 
riage, to  give  her  a  "  French  potion  "  and  then  to 
marry  the  Queen  of  Scots.  ^Elizabeth  did  happen 
at  that  time  to  be  suffering  from  a  temporary 
lameness  and  was  greatly  enraged  at  the  perverted 
report  of  it.  She  refused  to  divulge  the  name  of 
the  narrator,  but  threatened  to  renew  her  relations 
with  Philip  of  Spain.  Her  anger  finally  cooled, 
but  the  sore  rankled  for  a  time.  When  she  saw 
La  Mothe  again,  she  said  "  she  regretted  that  he 
had  not  come  to  a  ball  given  by  the  Marquis  of 
Northampton,  for  he  would  have  seen  her  dance, 
and  could  have  assured  the  Duke  that  he  was  not 
in  danger  of  marrying  a  lame  woman." 

Catherine  declared  that  she  was  discontented 
with  the  religious  conditions  and  that  her  son,  by 
accepting  them,  would  be  virtually  changing  his 
religion.  As  Queen  Elizabeth  could  not  afford  to 
lose  the  support  of  France,  now  of  all  times,  when 
there  was  no  doubt  that  Spain  and  the  Holy 
League  had  determined  to  crush  her,  she  feigned 
to  be  more  conciliating  on  the  score  of  religion 
than  her  ministers,  and  promised  to  close  her  eyes 
if  the  Duke  wished  to  celebrate  a  private  Mass. 
To  gain  time  and  avoid  a  definite  reply,  she  af- 
fected to  be  very  superstitious1  and  feared  lest 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  163 

something  in  the  marriage  ceremony  should  offend 
Anjou  and  cause  him  to  leave  her  later,  or,  worse 
misfortune  of  all,  the  wedding  ring  might  fall  to 
the  floor. 

Suspicious  as  this  fencing  rendered  Catherine, 
she  was  obliged,  for  her  own  interests,  to  keep  up 
ostensibly  the  negotiations1.  She  did,  however,  beg 
for  more  moderate  conditions,  as  Anjou  was  firm 
in  declaring1  that  "  his  conscience  "  would  not  per- 
mit him  to  attend  English  service.  With  much 
difficulty,  Cecil  wrung  from  the  Queen  a  reluctant 
authorization  to  draw  up  amended  marriage 
propositions.  As  soon  as  Elizabeth  saw  that  the 
French  were  disposed  to  give  way  in  the  matter 
of  religion,  she  demanded  the  restitution  <*f  Calais. 
Full  of  apprehension  at  this  bold  demand,  Cecil 
represented  to  her  that  if  France  refused  her  con- 
ditions a  Catholic  invasion  would  undoubtedly 
take  place.  She  pretended  to  be  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  this  and  allowed  Cecil  to  continue  his 
work.  But  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  intended  to  slip 
out  of  the  Anjou  match  ultimately  and  yet  to 
keep  up  the  fiction  until  it  had  served  her  turn, 
now  brought  forward  other  excuses.  She  feared 
she  was  not  well  enough,  nor  was  she  sufficiently 
prepared  for  marriage.  She  wanted  to  wait  until 
she  was  in  better  health.  Catherine  became  very 
uneasy  at  these  delays  and  excuses,  nor  was  she 
reassured  by  receiving  from  the  English  Queen 
letters  filled  with  protestations  of  friendship.  She 
knew  her  of  old.  With  a  view  of  discovering 


164  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

just  how  the  ground  lay,  the  Queen  Mother  sent 
her  agents,  Larchant  and  Cavalcanti,  into  England 
to  present  to  Queen  Elizabeth  a  portrait  of  the 
Duke  of  Anjou. 

When  the  Envoys  reached  London,  they  were 
informed  that  on  the  preceding  night,  Queen 
Elizabeth,  while  undressing,  had  sprained  her  foot, 
and  could  not  see  them  for  a  week. 

When  they  were  finally  admitted  to  the  Presence, 
they  found  the  Queen  resolute  in  refusing  any  con- 
cession whatever.  She  even  revoked  what  she  had 
formerly  offered,  and  now  would  not  allow  the 
Duke  to  have  even  a  private  Mass.  Nevertheless, 
she  appeared  very  gracious  and  charming  and  ex- 
pressed herself  delighted  with  the  Duke's  picture. 
/  She  said  she  was  glad  to  see  in  Anjou  "  the  ma- 
turity of  a  man,"  because  she  did  not  want  to 
be  led  to  the  altar  by  a  man  who  appeared  as 
young  as  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  for  fear  their  dis- 
parity in  ages  would  be  too  marked.  La  Mothe- 
Fenelon,  with  true  French  gallantry,  replied  that 
"  years  could  not  rob  her  of  any  of  her  beauty 
and  charms." 

Although  she  wrote,  of  her  own  accord,  an  af- 
fectionate, but  ambiguous  letter  to  Anjou,  she  did 
not  remove  the  conditions  of  religion  of  which 
Catherine  and  her  son  complained.  The  Queen 
Mother  might  have  waived  these  difficulties,  but 
Anjou  was  obdurate.  He  showed  signs  of  active 
disobedience  and  defiance,  and  spoke  slightingly 
of  his  proposed  consort.  Bitter  quarrels  on  this 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  165 

subject  broke  out  between  him  and  Charles  IX. 
The  king  told  him  that  he  had  insulted  and  de- 
ceived the  Queen  of  England,  whom,  he  Charles, 
esteemed  and  honoured.  He  told  him  that  he  knew 
his  conscience  had  nothing  to  do  with  it,  but  that 
it  was  a  substantial  sum  given  him  by  the  Clergy 
to  be  their  champion  that  made  him  so  obstinate. 
Anjou,  not  being  able  to  deny  the  truth  of  this 
reflection,  shut  himself  up  in  his  rooms  and  wept 
all  day,  but  he  would  not  yield.  He  knew  that 
Queen  Elizabeth  would  never  marry  him,  and  that 
he  was1  saving  himself  the  indignity  of  a  refusal, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  playing  into  the  hands  of 
the  Holy  League.  So,  after  six  months  of  ne- 
gotiations, the  Anjou  match  was  broken  off,  but, 
as  Queen  Elizabeth  had  shrewdly  calculated,  the 
defensive  alliance  with  France,  for  which  she  had 
been  angling,  was  in  no  way  weakened.  Charles 
IX  hastened  to  assure  her  that  "  he  would  honour 
her  all  his  life  for  her  upright  dealing,"  and  the 
resourceful  Catherine  de'  Medici  had  another  son 
to  offer  her,  the  ugly,  perverse,  little  Alen9on,  just 
seventeen!  " 


XIII 

MARRIAGE    NEGOTIATIONS    WITH    THE 
DUKE  OF  ALENCON 

The  hideously  ugly,  pock-marked  imp,  Francois 
d'Alen9on,   whom    Catherine    de'    Medici   in    1572 
gravely   proposed   as   a   husband   for   the   dainty 
Queen   of  England,  was  described  by  the  Queen 
Mother,  when  he  was  nine  years  old,  as  "  a  little 
blackamoor,   who   had    only   war   and   discord   in 
his  brain."     As  a  child,  he  had  such  bitter  hatred- 
for  his  brother,  Anjou,  his  mother's  "  idol,"  that 
Catherine  was   obliged  to  separate   the   two   and"* 
bring  Alen9on  up  alone.     Before  he  was  a  man,x 
he  attached  himself  to  all  those  whom  Anjou  dis-  - 
liked  and  distrusted. 

Immediately  after  Queen  Elizabeth  had  con- 
cluded with  France  the  defensive  alliance  for 
which  she  had  been  so  long  negotiating,  La  Mothe- 
Fenelon,  at  the  instance  of  Catherine,  proposed 
Alen9on  to  Burleigh,  telling  him  that  the  Queen 
Mother  gave  assurance  that  her  youngest  son 
"  would  make  no  scruple  about  religion,"  nor 
would  he  consider  himself  "  inevitably  damned  " 
as  Anjou  did  —  if  he  could  not  have  full  Mass. 

When  Burleigh  spoke  to  his  Sovereign  of  the  new 
166 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  167 

offer,  she  said  the  disparity  of  ages'  was  too  great, 
and  asked  how  tall  he  really  was.  "  About  as  tall 
as  I  am,"  was  the  evasive  reply.  "  You  mean  as 
tall  as  your  grandson,"  retorted  the  Queen,  and 
he  dared  not  reply. 

Marshal  de  Montmorency,  together  with  Paul 
de  Foys,  was  dispatched  to  ask  officially  for  the 
Rand  of  Queen  Elizabeth.     Cavalcanti,  the  Italian 
agent  of  Catherine,  was1  sent  ahead  to  reconnoitre. 
He  carried  with  him  a  very  flattering  picture  of 
Alen9on,  which  he  entrusted  to  Leicester  to  give  to    ^ 
the  Queen.     Her  Majesty  said  she  did  not  like  this  / 
portrait  as  well  as  Anjou's,  but  he  seemed  better, 
looking  than  she  had  expected.      She  told  Leices- 
ter that  the  marks  of  the  small-pox,  which  Alen9on 
had  recently  had,  might  disappear  with  time,  but, 
as  he  was  seventeen  and  she  thirty-eight,  the  dis- 
advantages which  she  had  feared  in  the  case  of  his 
elder  brother  would  be  still  more  to  be  feared  in 
his  case. 

When  Montmorency  arrived,  the  Queen  received 
him  very  graciously,  but  took  care,  as  usual,  to 
say  nothing  that  would  in  any  way  commit  her- 
self. She  accused  the  Envoys  of  talking  only  gen- 
eralities, whereas  "  she  desired  to  enter  into  par- 
ticularities, especially  on  the  important  subject  of 
religion."  They  assured  her  that  everything 
would  be  arranged  to  her  entire  satisfaction. 
Alen9on,  they  said,  would  be  content  with  the  con- 
cessions granted  to  Anjou. 

"  I  don't  recall  having  made  any  concessions," 


168  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

replied  the  Queen.  "  The  desire  of  assuring  the 
security  of  my  subjects  is  the  only  thing  which 
can  make  me  overlook  the  disparity  of  ages." 

The  Envoys  went  on  to  say  that  the  Duke  asked 
only  for  a  private  Mass,  and  would  be  willing  to  at- 
tend other  services  that  were  not  "  too  contrary 
to  his  religion."  The  Queen  asked  if  he  could  not 
get  along  for  a  while  without  even  his  private 
Mass  if,  as  was  not  unlikely,  it  should  cause  trouble 
among  her  subjects.  De  Foys  intimated  that  he 
would,  "  For  every  wise  Prince,"  he  said,  "  seeks 
to  avoid  the  cause  of  troubles." 

Then  Queen  Elizabeth  fell  to  recounting  with 
evident  relish,  the  personal  defects  of  the  ill- 
favoured  stripling,  whom  Catherine  had  designated 
as  her  future  consort.  With  grave  countenance, 
she  demanded  of  the  Ambassador,  "  what  com- 
pensation is  to  be  made  to  her,  in  the  marriage 
articles,  for  the  injury  to  his  face  from  the  small 
pox  ?  "  and  hinted  that  fbp  restitution  nf  -P-*!*™ 
would  be  a  fitting  compensation.  In  spite  of  the 
political  expediency  which  rendered  it  necessary 
for  the  English  Queen  to  keep  on  friendly  terms 
with  France,  she  could  not  entirely  conceal  her 
scorn  of  the  ridiculous  offer  made  her,  but  dis- 
taussed  the  scion  of  the  House  of  Valois  from  head 
to  foot,  with  as  little  ceremony  as  though  she  were 
bargaining  for  a  pet  dog.  She  then  delayed  her 
reply  until  the  next  day,  when  she  was  as  evasive 
as  ever.  Although  she  secretly  mocked  at  the  ill- 
conditioned  Alen9on,  she  entertained  Montmorency 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  169 

and  de  Foys  for  two  weeks  with  fetes  and  ban- 
quets. 

Upon  the  departure  of  the  Ambassador,  Burleigh  / 
writes  Walsingham  "  the  Ambassadors  did  all  they 
could  in  the  matter  of  the  Due  d'Alen9on,  but  got 
from  Her  Majesty  neither  yea  nor  nay,  but  the 
delay  of  a  month,  in  which  she  was  to  make  up  her 
mind." 

When  Lord  Admiral  Clinton  returned  from 
France,  where  he  had  been  splendidly  entertained 
by  Catherine,  he  told  Queen  Elizabeth  that  Alen- 
9on  was  superior  to  Anjou  in  appearance  and 
repute.  But  Her  Maj  esty  replied  that  "  he  did 
not  approach  the  Duke  of  Anjou  and  his  pock 
marks  did  not  tend  to  improve  his  appearance." 
To  satisfy  herself,  she  demanded  from  Walsingham 
exact  personal  details  concerning  Alencon :  —  his 
age,  height,  religious  inclination,  and  the  tastes 
and  amusements  of  himself  and  his  friends.  Wals- 
ingham gave  a  favourable  description  of  his  pur- 
suits and  pleasures,  but  was  careful  to  abstain 
from  remarks  on  his  personal  appearance.  He 
added  to  his  account,  "  I  have  heard  from  many 
sides  that  he  has  a  lively  and  sincere  passion  for 
Your  Majesty." 

After  the  month's1  delay  that  she  had  asked 
for,  the  Queen  wrote  to  Walsingham :  "  We  can- 
not decide  on  the  marriage,  unless  it  is  accompa- 
nied by  great  advantages  to  counterbalance  the 
ridiculous  judgements  that  will  be  passed  on  it." 
In  this  letter,  she  hinted  that  she  would  like  to  see 


170  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Alen9on  with  her  own  eyes,  because  none  of  her 
subjects  dared  tell  their  real  opinion.  Catherine 
said  she  would  consent  to  an  interview,  if  she  was 
assured  of  success.  Elizabeth,  of  course,  would 
bind  herself  to  no  promise.  So  the  negotiation 
rested  in  suspense. 

Then  Alen^on  sent  his  most  intimate  confidant, 
La  Mole,  to  the  Queen,  ostensibly  to  thank  her  for 
the  magnificent  reception  she  gave  to  Montmorency, 
and  also  to  announce  the  marriage  of  his1  sister 
Marguerite  to  Henry  of  Navarre.  When  La 
Mole  arrived,  Queen  Elizabeth  was  preparing  for 
one  of  her  customary  progresses,  and  so  put  off 
seeing  him  for  a  few  days.  When  she  did  admit 
him  to  her  presence,  she  appeared  delighted  with 
his  suave  and  courteous  manners.  She  told  him 
that  she  desired  to  see  Alen9on  only  to  find  out  if 
she  were  really  loved.  She  took  the  ingratiating 
La  Mole,  and  also  La  Mothe-Fenelon,  in  her 
suite  to  Kenilworth,  where  Leicester  had  prepared 
a  sumptuous  banquet  in  her  honour.  On  the  next 
day,  she  led  the  gallant  Frenchmen  to  the  house 
of  Lord  Burleigh,  where  she  was  again  the  honoured 
guest  at  another  great  dinner.  On  this  occasion, 
she  said  that  "  Walsingham  had  misinterpreted  and 
badly  expressed  her  thought;  she  had  never  said 
her  marriage  with  the  Duke  was  impossible,  but 
had  only  alluded  to  certain  difficulties."  She  con- 
tinued to  show  extraordinary  marks  of  favour  to 
the  Envoys,  even  playing  before  them  on  the  spin- 
net.  In  the  presence  of  her  ministers,  she  told  them 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  171 

"  in  a  sweet,  sympathetic  voice,"  that  "  she  is  re- 
solved to  marry,  but  desires  to  see  her  suitor  first." 
Everything  appeared  favourable  and  everybody 
urged  Alen9on  to  come  when,  like  a  thunderbolt 
from  a  clear  sky,  occurred  the  bloody  massacre  of 
St.  Bartholomew  on  August  24«,  157&. 

The  Queen  was  hunting  at  Kenilworth  when  the 
dreadful  news  arrived.  She  seemed  stunned  at 
the  blow  which  appeared  to  be  aimed  at  herself,  as 
well  as  at  the  Protestants  of  France.  All  re- 
joicings and  merriment  were  abruptly  stopped, 
mourning  garb  was  put  on,  and  anxious  conferences 
held.  The  very  name  of  Frenchman  was  abhorred, 
La  Mole  fled  in  haste  from  England,  and  La  Mothe 
was  commanded  by  Elizabeth  to  keep  strictly  within 
his  house,  until  she  was  assured  that  her  Am- 
bassadors in  France  were  safe.  It  devolved  upon 
La  Mothe,  who  was  deeply  mortified  and  grieved 
at  this  atrocious  act  of  Charles  IX  and  his  mother, 
to  explain  and  extenuate  it  as  much  as  possible. 
But  Queen  Elizabeth  would  not  see  the  luckles's 
Ambassador  until  September  7th,  when  she  finally 
consented  to  receive  him  at  Woodstock  on  her  way 
to  Windsor.  He  was  conducted  to  the  Privy 
Chamber,  where  he  found  the  Queen,  clad  in  deepest 
mourning  and  surrounded  by  her  Councillors  and 
the  principal  ladies  of  her  Court,  all  of  whom  wore 
the  same  sombre  garb  as  their  Mistress.  There  was 
a  solemn  and  ominous  silence  as  the  Ambassador 
entered  in  fear  and  trepidation,  then,  after  a  short 
pause,  Queen  Elizabeth  advanced  toward  him,  with 


173  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

grave,  stern  mien,  but  with  her  customary  courtesy 
Leading  him  apart  from  the  rest,  she  asked  him  in 
cold,  deliberate  manner,  "  If  it  were  possible  that 
the  strange  news  she  had  heard  of  the  Prince  whom 
she  so  much  loved,  honoured,  and  confided  in  of  all 
the  world,  could  be  true." 

La  Mothe  made  the  most  plausible  excuse  that 
he  could;  repeated  the  story  that  Coligny  had 
plotted  with  the  Huguenots  to  seize  the  Louvre; 
and  pleaded  that  the  massacre  was1  unpremeditated, 
and  that  the  King  had  sacrificed  Coligny  only  to 
save  himself.  The  Queen  interrupted  the  Envoy 
in  the  midst  of  his  attempts  to  explain,  telling 
him  that  she  knew  too  much  of  the  affair  to  be 
deceived  or  to  give  entire  credence  to  the  King's 
excuses.  "  I  fear,"  she  said,  "  that  those  who  have 
made  the  King  abandon  the  Protestants  will  also 
make  him  abandon  my  friendship."  She  then  dis- 
missed La  Mothe. 

Soon  after  the  massacre,  Catherine  de'  Medici 
sought  to  rectify  the  mistake  she  had  made  by 
again  favouring  the  Huguenots  and  again  urging 
the  Alen£on  match.  Alencon,  so  far  from  taking 
a  share  in  the  massacre,  had  publicly  and  loudly 
condemned  it,  and  taken  the  part  of  the  Hugue- 
nots1; but  the  atrocious  act  had  rendered  the  nego- 
tiations for  the  Queen's  marriage  to  a  Frenchman 
and  a  Catholic  most  distasteful  to  the  English 
people,  and  so  they  were  apparently  dropped,  al- 
though tender  missives  continued  to  arrive  from 
Alen9on,  and  a  secret  communication  between  Eliz- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  173 


/' 


abeth  and  the  Court  of  France  was  still  carried 
on  through  La  Mothe. 

On  November  l£th,  Castelnau  de  la  Mauvissiere 
came  over  and  succeeded  in  inducing  Queen  Eliza- 
beth to  stand  sponsor  to  the  infant  daughter  of 
Charles  IX.  She  said  she  would  not,  however, 
proceed  further  in  the  matter  of  the  marriage, 
unless  good  terms  were  offered  to  the  Huguenots 
and  peace  made  at  Rochelle,  which  was  heroically 
resisting  its  Catholic  besiegers,  under  the  Duke  of 
Anjou,  and  the  young  Alen9on,  who  had  been 
forced,  much  against  his1  will,  to  accompany  his 
brother.  Catherine  and  Anjou  were  only  too  glad 
to  come  to  terms  with  the  Protestants,  for  they 
were  heartily  sick  of  the  unsuccessful  siege.  Soon 
after  the  treaty  was  ratified,  Anjou  was  elected  to 
the  Throne  of  Poland  and  a  year  later  ascended 
that  of  France. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1574,  Mauvissiere 
arrived  to  try  to  persuade  the  Queen  to  conclude 
the  matrimonial  treaty  between  herself  and  Alen- 
9on.  The  Ambassador  begged  her  to  send  him  a 
safe  conduct  to  visit  her  and  plead  his  cause  in 
person.  But  she  feared  that  if  she  and  the  Duke 
had  no  liking  for  each  other,  it  might  impair  the 
alliance  between  England  and  France,  and  so  re- 
fused to  grant  him  a  public  interview,  but  sug- 
gested that  he  come  over  "  in  some  sort  of  disguise 
and  not  accompanied  with  any  great  train,  for,  if 
there  follow  no  liking  between  us  after  a  view  taken 
the  one  of  the  other,  the  more  secretly  it  will  be 


174  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

handled,  the  least  touch  will  it  be  to  our  honours." 
This  plan  of  Elizabeth's  for  privately  inspecting 
Alen9on  did  not  please  the  Court  of  France,  who 
desired  to  force  her  to  commit  herself  irrevocably 
in  the  marriage  negotiations.  While  other  plans 
were  being  discussed,  a  political  plot  of  which 
Alen9on  was  the  head  was  suddenly  discovered. 
Charles'  IX  was  dying  of  consumption.  His 
brother,  Henry,  King  of  Poland,  who  was  his  next 
heir,  was  absent,  and  the  hopeful  youth,  Alen9on, 
was  intriguing  with  the  Protestant  leaders  for  the 
Crown  of  France.  This  conspiracy  was  detected 
by  the  Queen  Mother,  who  promptly  imprisoned 
her  youngest  son  and  the  King  of  Navarre  in  the 
Castle  of  Vincennes. 

To  make  peace  with  his  own  family,  Alen9on  be- 
trayed his  allies',  La  Mole  and  Corconnas,  and 
abandoned  Protestant  interests.  The  discovery  of 
this  plot  caused  an  abrupt  halt  in  the  marriage 
treaty.  When  Catherine  de'  Medici  asked  Queen 
Elizabeth  if  she  would  go  on  with  it,  she  replied 
that  she  could  not  think  ill  of  a  Prince  who  thought 
so  well  of  her,  but  that  she  would  not  take  a  hus- 
band "  with  irons  on  his  feet."  Upon  this  hint,  he 
was1  released  and  employed  by  the  English  Queen 
as  a  willing  tool  for  annoying  the  French  govern- 
ment. 

Upon  the  accession  of  Henry  III,  when  Alen9on 
was  proposed  again,  Queen  Elizabeth  said  that  she 
would  not  marry  him  until  he  was  on  good  terms 
with  the  King.  "  It  is  necessary,"  she  observed, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  175 

"  that  he  be  a  good  son  and  a  good  brother  before 
being  a  good  husband."  Catherine  retorted  that 
the  best  way  for  peace  to  be  brought  about,  was* 
for  Elizabeth  to  cease  encouraging  the  rebels. 
Queen  Elizabeth  then  offered  to  take  upon  herself 
the  duty  of  mediator,  but  the  Queen  Mother  pre- 
ferred to  manage  her  affairs  herself  and  refused 
this  offer. 

After  a  semblance  of  peace  had  been  made  in 
the  Royal  family,  the  French  Ambassador  again 
urged  the  marriage,  but  Queen  Elizabeth  cut  the 
interview  short,  and  would  promise  nothing  but  a 
good  reception  to  the  Duke  if  he  came  to  see  her. 
"  The  Duke  only  is  to  blame  for  this  negotiation 
.  remaining  two  years  in  suspense,"  she  declared. 
/  "  I  have  no  other  reply  to  make  than  that  which  I 
/  have  made  so  many  times.  I  shall  never  marry  a 
Prince  whom  I  have  not  seen.  If,  after  we  have 
seen  each  other,  I  do  not  accept  the  Duke  and  if 
he  takes  my  refusal  for  an  offence,  it  is  better 
that  he  does  not  come.  If,  on  the  contrary,  his 
protestations  are  sincere  and  if,  in  any  event,  he 
will  remain  my  friend,  let  him  come,  but  without 
a  retinue  .  .  .  let  this  be  only  a  simple  visit." 

Alen9on,  who  had  now  received  the  title  of  Duke 
of  Anjou  which  Henry  III  had  formerly  borne, 
had  been  offered  the  protectorship  of  the  Nether- 
lands. Queen  Elizabeth  herself  had  been  first  im- 
plored by  the  persecuted  Protestants  in  the  Nether- 
lands to  become  their  Sovereign.  She  refused 
their  offer  for  she  was  not  yet  ready  for  open  war 


176  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

with  Philip  of  Spain,  but  she  privately  supplied 
them  with  money  and  at  last  concluded  with  them 
an  offensive  and  defensive  alliance.  When  she 
learned  of  the  protectorship  of  Alen9on,  she  feared 
that  it  might  bring  on  annexation  to  France,  and 
was  determined  to  prevent  it.  She  decided  that 
the  cheapest  way  would  be  to  revive  with  zest  the 
long  neglected  marriage  comedy,  which  had  been 
proposed  six  years  before,  and  see  if  she  could  not 
make  a  tool  of  Alencon  and  force  him  to  do  her 
work.  In  this  manner,  she  could  still  cling  to  her 
policy  of  not  actually  throwing  down  the  gauntlet 
to  Philip. 

Alen9on  now  said  that  he  would  marry  either 
the  Queen  of  England  or  the  Netherlands,  and  if 
she  would  not  have  him  he  would  join  the  Span- 
iards. He  informed  her  that  if  she  would  conclude 
the  marriage  "  he  would  be  directed  by  her  in  all 
his  actions  in  the  Low  Countries." 

The  clever  Queen  hastened  to  assure  him  of  her 
affection  and  good  intentions  and  made  great  ef- 
forts to  show  special  honour  to  his  Envoys.  She 
was  on  one  of  her  progresses  at  the  time  of  their 
arrival.  At  a  banquet  given  in  their  honour,  she 
thought  there  should  have  been  more  silver  on  the 
side-board  to  impress  the  visitors  with  her  wealth 
and  magnificence.  She  angrily  asked  Sussex,  who 
was  Lord  Steward,  why  there  was  no  more.  He 
replied  that  he  had  always  accompanied  the  Eng- 
lish Sovereigns  on  their  progresses  and  they  had 
never  carried  so  much  as  she  did.  But  the  Queen 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  177 

was  not  to  be  mollified;  she  bade  him  hold  his 
tongue,  called  him  a  "  great  rogue,"  and  said  the 
more  she  did  for  people  like  him  the  worse  they 
acted.  She  asked  the  opinion  of  Lord  North,  who 
was  a  friend  to  Leicester,  and  he,  of  course,  agreed 
that  there  was  not  enough  silver  and  threw  the 
blame  on  Sussex.  The  latter  now  became  angry  in 
his  turn ;  he  waited  outside  for  North,  called  him  a 
"  knave  "  and  threatened  to  thrash  him.  Leicester 
was  obliged  to  intervene,  and  the  whole  Court  was 
stirred  up  to  the  infinite  delight  of  the  Spanish 
Ambassador,  who  immediately  acquainted  his  mas- 
ter with  all  that  had  occurred. 

After  Queen  Elizabeth  returned  from  her  prog- 
ress, Alen9on  sent  to  her  Jean  Simier,  his  master 
of  the  wardrobe,  to  plead  his  suit.  He  carried 
with  him  a  letter  from  Catherine  and  Henry  III, 
and  a  tender  epistle  from  the  young  Duke,  com- 
plaining of  the  tiresome  life  he  was  leading  since 
he  was  deprived  of  seeing  "  the  most  perfect  god- 
dess of  the  Heavens."  Leicester  and  Hatton  be- 
came violently  jealous  of  the  insinuating  French- 
man, who  proved  so  agreeable  to  the  Queen  that  she 
invited  him  three  times  a  week  to  her  private  par- 
ties and  seemed  to  take  great  delight  in  his  com- 
pany. Aside  from  the  fact  that  policy  required 
her  to  be  unusually  gracious  to  the  French  Envoy, 
she  appeared  to  be  really  charmed  by  his  irresist- 
ible French  gallantry  and  termed  him  her  "  faith- 
ful monkey."  She  played  her  part  so  well  and 
showered  so  many  favours  on  the  "  monkey  "  that 


178  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Leicester  declared  he  had  bewitched  her.  His  con- 
stant attendance  upon  Her  Majesty  caused  com- 
ment among  the  ill-disposed  and  remonstrances 
from  others.  But  Elizabeth  was  determined  to 
convince  Alencon  this  time  of  her  sincerity  in  the 
matter  of  the  marriage,  and  so  continued  to  bestow 
her  delusive  smiles  upon  his  agent.  Castelnau  de 
la  Mauvissiere,  in  a  despatch  to  Catherine  de' 
Medici,  wrote:  "  His  words  rejuvenate  the 
Queen,  she  has  become  more  beautiful  and  more 
light-hearted  than  she  was  fifteen  years  ago." 

But  Simier  kept  his  master's  interests  at  heart 
and  demanded  three  conditions  to  the  marriage: 
the  crowning  of  the  Duke  soon  after  the  ceremony ; 
a  sort  of  joint  control  in  the  administration  and 
distribution  of  charges  and  offices1;  and  60,000 
livres  annual  income  reversible  in  case  of  the  pre- 
decease of  the  Queen. 

Elizabeth  promised  to  give  an  answer  in  two 
days.  In  the  meantime,  she  consulted  Leicester, 
Sussex,  and  Cecil.  They  all  unanimously  rejected 
the  second  article  and  suggested  that  the  other  two 
be  submitted  to  Parliament. 

When  Simier  learned  of  this  decision  he  said  he 
would  waive  the  matter  of  the  second  article,  but 
complained  to  the  Queen  that  he  was  not  being 
treated  fairly.  She  swore  that  she  would  not  be 
influenced  by  her  Council  and  was  determined  to 
marry.  She  then  wrote  a  letter  to  Alen9on,  call- 
ing him  her  "  very  faithful  friend " ;  but  after 
many  protestations  of  affection,  she  concluded  by 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  179 

bidding  him  be  content  with  her  unalterable  love, 
which  perchance  was  better  than  marriage  for  him 
and  for  her. 

The  Duke  took  alarm  at  this,  acquiesced  in  th< 
decision  of  the  Council,  withdrew  his  conditions, 
asked  only  for  private  Mass  for  himself  and  his 
friends,  and  said  he  would  come  soon  to  claim  his 
bride. 

This  eager  haste  did  not  suit  Queen  Elizabeth's 
plans  and  she  anxiously  inquired  of  her  ministers' 
if  she  could  honourably  refuse  the  interview,  or,  in 
case  the  Duke  did  not  please  her,  if  she  could  re- 
ject him  without  giving  offence.  They  replied 
that  the  Duke's  offer  to  visit  her  should  be  accepted 
and  that  she  could  not,  with  honour,  refuse  him 
until  she  had  seen  him.  She  decided  to  follow  their 
advice  and  Simier  wrote  to  Alen£on  that  he  had 
at  last  convinced  her  that  she  was  loved  for  herself 
and  not  for  her  Crown  and  that  she  said :  "  I  do 
not  doubt  that  if  I  am  Monsieur's,  he  will  esteem 
and  honour  me,  but  I  fear  he  will  love  me  only 
a  year  or  two,  nevertheless,  I  can  promise  him  be- 
fore God  that  if  he  is  a  good  husband,  no  one  shall 
be  a  better  wife  than  I."  She  now  dressed  herself 
and  her  Court  after  the  French  fashion  and  ap- 
peared more  gracious  than  ever  to  "  her  little 
monkey,"  Simier.  When  one  of  her  ministers  re- 
proached her  because  of  her  friendship  for  the 
ingratiating  foreigner,  she  answered  that  "  he  was 
no  longer  a  stranger  to  her,  but  a  faithful  servant 
of  her  husband,  knowing  his  secrets  which  she 


180  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

wanted  to  learn  in  order  to  be  of  more  service  to 
him  when  they  were  together." 

But  soon  after  this  the  Queen  began  to  cool  and 
bring  forward  objections  again,  so  that  Catherine 
and  even  Simier  doubted  her  sincerity.  When  she 
heard  that  Alen9on  would  arrive  in  the  early  part 
of  August,  she  gave  no  orders  for  his  reception, 
and  Leicester  was  high  in  favour  once  more.  It 
was  then  that  Simier  resolved  to  discredit  the  Earl 
who  seemed  the  chief  obstacle  in  his  master's  path, 
and  revealed  his  secret  marriage  with  the  Countess* 
of  Essex.  The  disclosure  had  the  desired  result 
and  "  mounseer,"  as  the  Duke  was  termed  in  Eng- 
land, made  all  haste  to  cross  the  seas  in  disguise, 
attended  only  by  two  servants,  and  suddenly  ap- 
pearing at  the  gates  of  Greenwich  Castle,  demanded 
permission  to  fling  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  Virgin 
Queen. 

I      Queen  Elizabeth  professed  to  be  charmed  with 
/  the  romantic  gallantry  of  her  impatient  suitor,  who 
/    was  small  of  stature  and  large  of  head,  with  a  face 
disfigured  by   smallpox,  and  a  nose  ending  in  a 
X  huge  knob  that  made  it  look  like  two  noses.     In 
j\    addition  to  his  other  charjT'g  ho  hfljjja,  harsh,  crpak- 
'    in^  voice.  ^_  The   only   pleasing  thing   about   him 
was  his  conversation  at  which  he  was  an  adept. 
As  Queen  Elizabeth  had  no  intention  of  marrying 
him,  it  cost  her  no  pang  to  declare  that  she  was 
enamoured  of  him  and  that  he  was  just  the  sort 
of  husband  she  should  choose.     He  became  very 
friendly  with  her  and  passed  all  the  days  of  his 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  181 

visit  in  constant  attendance  upon  her.  She  dubbed 
him  her  "  frog  "  and  kept  him  at  her  heels  for  a 
week,  until  his  distrust  of  her  real  intentions  was 
banished  and  he  was  convinced  that  she  was  actu- 
ally smitten  with  him.  Upon  one  occasion  he  was 
hidden  behind  a  curtain  to  view  her  dancing,  and 
all  the  courtiers  pretended  to  be  ignorant  of  his 
presence,  although  he  was  only  half-hidden  by  the 
arras.  In  the  course  of  the  dance,  the  Queen 
posed  and  made  signals  to  him  in  order  to  make 
him  think  that  she  desired  him  to  be  smitten  with 
her  dancing.  When  Alen9on  departed  from  Eng- 
land he  flattered  himself  that  he  would  have  no 
difficulty  in  bending  a  love-sick  Queen  to  his  polit- 
ical designs.  Little  did  he  know  his  opponent. 
On  his  departure,  in  order  to  ^eeP,  UP .  jJ3£_t£SJgr" 
ness,  he""  wrote  a  series  of  amourous  letters,  suffi- 
Tient,  says  Castelnau,  "  to  set  fire  to  water."  In 
his  first  he  wrote  that  "  he  was  envious  of  his  letter 
which  would  reach  her  hand  and  that  he  could  not 
write  at  length  because  he  was  not  himself,  for  he 
was  ever  staunching  his  tears  which  flowed  without 
intermission."  He  swore  that  "  he  would  love  her 
forever  and  would  remain  her  most  faithful  and 
affectionate  slave  on  earth."  "  As  such  on  the 
shore  of  this  turbid  sea  I  kiss  your  feet,"  he  con- 
cluded. 

At  the  same  time  Simier  sent  a  letter  to  the 
Queen,  which  runs :  "  Madam,  I  must  tell  you  how 
little  sleep  your  '  frog '  had  last  night,  for  he  did 
nothing  but  sigh  and  weep.  At  eight  o'clock  he 


182  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

made  me  get  up  to  talk  to  him  of  your  divine  \ 
beauty  and  of  his  great  grief  at  leaving  Your  Maj- 
esty, the  jailer  of  his  heart  and  the  mistress  of  his 
liberty.  I  expect  he  will  have  a  fair  voyage,  un- 
less he  swell  the  waves  with  the  abundance  of  his 
tears.  The  monkey  takes  the  liberty  of  kissing 
rour  lovely  hands." 

Other  extravagant  love  missives  of  like  tenor 
followed  in  close  succession  and  Queen  Elizabeth 
professed  herself  delighted  with  the  Duke's  ardour. 
On  both  sides  there  were  protestations  of  undying 
affection,  sweet  promises,  and  much  deceit.  Un- 
fortunately, the  Queen's  acting  was  so  realistic  that 
it  deceived  her  own  subjects  as  well  as  the  French, 
and  there  was  lively  opposition  in  England  to  the 
marriage,  for  hatred  of  Frenchmen  was  a  ruling 
passion  with  most  of  the  English. 

Toward  the  middle  of  September  Simier  suc- 
ceeded in  dragging  from  Queen  Elizabeth  and  her 
Council  a  draft  agreement  of  the  marriage  articles, 
and  departed  for  France,  laden  with  gifts.  In 
October  of  that  year,  1579,  the  Council  decided 
that  the  possible  dangers  exceeded  the  benefits  of 
the  match,  and  begged  the  Queen  to  state  her  incli- 
nation "  and  they  would  endeavour  to  make  them- 
selves conformable  to  it."  Upon  this,  Her  Majesty 
wept  and  railed  at  them,  and  reproached  them  for 
their  long  discussions  "  as  if  it  were  doubtful 
whether  there  would  be  more  surety  for  her  and 
her  Realm,  than  if  she  were  to  marry  and  have  a 
child  of  her  own  to  inherit,  and  so  to  continue  the 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  183 

line  of  Henry  VIII."  She  peremptorily  ordered 
them  not  to  trouble  her  again  until  afternoon. 
When  they  again  approached  her  she  blazed  forth 
into  greater  indignation.  Says  Burleigh :  "  Her 
answers  were  very  sharp  in  reprehending  all  such 
as  she  thought  would  make  argument  against  the 
marriage,  and  though  she  thought  it  not  meet  to 
declare  to  them  whether  she  would  marry  or  not, 
yet  she  looked  from  their  hands  that  they  should, 
with  one  accord,  have  made  special  suit  to  her  for 
the  same." 

Francis  Bacon,  like  his  father,  was  a  great  ad- 
vocate for  the  celibacy  of  the  Queen.  "  Female 
reigns,"  he  says,  "  are  usually  eclipsed  by  marriage 
and  all  the  glory  transferred  to  the  husband ;  while 
those  Queens  who  live  single  have  none  to  share  it 
with  them.  And  this  was  more  peculiarly  the  case 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  for  she  had  no  supporters  of 
the  government  but  those  of  her  own  making, — 
no  brother,  no  uncle,  nor  any  other  of  the  Royal 
family  to  partake  her  cares  and  assist  her  gov- 
ernment. The  ministers  whom  she  advanced  to 
places  of  trust  she  kept  so  tight  a  reign  upon, 
and  so  dispensed  her  favours,  that  they  were  con- 
tinually solicitous  to  please  her,  while  she  ever 
remained  mistress  of  herself." 

No  one  could  discover  the  Queen's  real  inten- 
tions, but  the  people,  who  could  only  judge  by  ap- 
pearances, plainly  showed  their  intense  dislike  of 
the  marriage.  The  Puritan  Stubbs  published  his 
book  entitled  "  A  Discovery  of  a  Gaping  Gulf 


184  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

wherein  England  is  like  to  be  swallowed  by  another 
French  Marriage."  Elizabeth  vented  her  rage  on 
the  author,  who  had  boldly  told  her  of  the  dangers 
attendant  upon  marriage  at  her  age.  He  was  sen- 
tenced to  have  his  hand  cut  off.  After  his  right 
hand  was  cut  off,  he  pulled  off  his  hat  with  his 
left,  and  cried  loudly,  "  God  save  Queen  Eliza- 
beth !  "  All  London,  like  him,  was  opposed  to  the 
marriage  and  loyal  to  the  Queen. 

Meanwhile  presents  and  love-letters  continued 
to  speed  between  the  Courts  of  F'rance  and  Eng- 
land. The  Queen  had  quarrels  with  all  her  min- 
isters and  even  her  "  faithful  sheep  "  Hatton  was 
sent  into  the  country  to  rusticate  for  a  week, 
because  he  ventured  to  express  his  dislike  of  the 
marriage.  Soon  Elizabeth  herself  began  to  cool 
a  little  and  sent  Lord  Stafford  to  demand  of  Alen- 
cxm  some  restrictions  in  the  exercise  of  his  religion. 
This  rendered  Henry  III  suspicious  again,  and  the 
Duke  did  not  prove  so  yielding  as  he  had  been 
thought.  He  held  to  the  articles  brought  over  by 
Simier.  Catherine  wrote  a  very  affectionate  letter 
to  excuse  her  son's  scruples,  and  Alen9on,  seeing 
that  Queen  Elizabeth  stood  firm,  finally  yielded. 
It  was  only  the  interests  of  his  own  fortune  that 
had  made  him  hold  out  —  he  had  been  receiving 
money  from  the  Catholics  in  Flanders.  But  he 
would  not  lead  an  army  to  help  the  revolted  Neth- 
erlands, as  Elizabeth  urged  him  to  do,  until  he 
had  gained  the  marriage,  and  Henry  III,  although 
ready  and  willing  to  assist  him,  refused  to  stir 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  185 

until  the  marriage  was  consummated  and  the  Eng- 
lish Queen  should  openly  declare  herself  his  ally 
in  war  against  Spain. 

Although  all  Europe  was  alarmed  by  the  appar- 
ent increase  of  Spanish  power  through  Philip's 
conquest  of  Portugal,  the  French  King  ignored 
Queen  Elizabeth's  constant  exhortations  that  it 
was  his  special  duty  to  check  the  encroachments 
of  Philip  and  persisted  in  his  refusal  to  stir  with- 
out the  marriage.  In  this  year,  1580,  the  match 
was  generally  belived  to  be  abandoned,  but  the 
Queen  saw  the  necessity  of  keeping  up  the  farce 
if  she  was  to  have  her  way  with  the  French  King, 
so  she  concluded  another  treaty  of  marriage,  but 
with  the  proviso  that  she  should  be  allowed  six 
weeks  for  the  passing  of  private  explanations  be- 
tween herself  and  Alen9on.  This  was  granted  her, 
and  to  keep  up  the  hopes  of  the  French,  she  asked 
the  French  Ambassador  to  fix  a  date  for  the  coming 
of  the  marriage  commissioners.  The  "  frog  "  and 
the  "  faithful  monkey  "  waxed  ardent  again,  and 
the  latter  wrote :  "  As  for  your  frog  his  flame  is 
immortal  and  his  love  for  you  can  never  end  either 
in  this  world  or  the  next.  By  God,  Madam,  lose 
no  more  time  .  .  .  allow  Monseigneur  soon  to  ap- 
proach your  charms.  This  is  the  daily  prayer  of 
your  monkey  who  kisses  the  shadow  of  your  foot- 
steps." The  Queen,  as  was  her  wont,  sent  back 
sweet  words,  but  no  decisive  answer.  She  did,  how- 
ever, furnish  Alen9on  with  money  and  urged  him 
to  make  a  sudden  attack  on  the  Prince  of  Parma, 


186  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

who  was  besieging  Cambray,  near  the  French  fron- 
tier. She  was  determined  to  make  him  her  tool 
in  Flanders  or  not  have  him  there  at  all.  If  she 
failed  in  this,  she  would  be  satisfied  with  a  per- 
petual alliance  between  France  and  England,  or 
an  open  rupture  between  France  and  Spain. 

Alen9on,  thinking  that  the  Queen  was  now  sin- 
cere, collected  an  army.  His'  undertaking  was 
secretly  encouraged  by  Henry  III.  When  Eliza- 
beth thought  they  had  sufficiently  committed  them- 
selves she  sought  to  evade  the  marriage,  telling 
them  that  it  must  again  be  deferred  as  her  subjects 
disapproved.  She  said  she  could  only  join  them 
in  a  defensive  alliance,  but  would  give  a  "  reason- 
able "  amount  of  money  secretly.  The  French 
King  was  not  so  far  committed  but  what  he  could 
draw  back  in  time  to  escape  a  heavy  war,  but  the 
luckless  Alen9on,  marching  at  the  head  of  15,000 
troops,  was  ashamed  to  withdraw  and  had  to  con- 
tinue on  his  way  to  Cambray. 

The  embassy  extraordinary,  consisting  of  500 
persons,  which  was  sent  from  the  Court  of  France 
to  that  of  England,  failed  to  win  anything  from 
the  wary  Queen  but  smiles  and  fair  words.  The 
Prince  Dauphin  of  Auvergne  was  the  chief  notable 
in  the  embassy,  which  included  many  great  Lords. 
They  were  met  in  the  Thames  with  the  greatest 
honours  at  the  command  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and 
landed  at  the  Tower  amid  a  volley  of  artillery. 
They  were  received  by  the  Queen  at  Westminster 
in  the  vast  banqueting  hall,  which  was  hung  with 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  187 

cloth  of  silver  and  gold.  From  festoons  of  ivy, 
rosemary,  and  flowers  hung  pendants  of  fruits  and 
vegetables.  The  ceiling  was  painted  to  represent 
the  sky  with  stars  and  sunbeams  intermingled  with 
escutcheons  of  the  Royal  arms.  The  entire  apart- 
ment was  illumined  with  glass  lustres1.  Upon  the 
elevated  throne,  surmounted  by  a  silk-covered  dais, 
sown  with  roses  and  pearls,  sat  Queen  Elizabeth, 
attired  in  an  elaborate  robe  of  cloth  of  gold,  orna- 
mented with  a  border  of  diamonds  and  rubies. 
Her  Majesty  was  surrounded  by  the  ladies'  of  her 
Court.  All  the  members  of  the  embassy,  in  rich 
apparel,  bowed  low  in  passing  before  the  throne. 
The  Queen  arose  as  they  entered,  descended  the 
dais,  and,  according  to  the  custom,  kissed  the 
Dauphin  on  the  mouth.  The  others  she  greeted 
with  gracious  words  of  welcome.  The  Dauphin,  in 
token  of  respect,  remained  with  his  head  uncovered, 
and  twice  the  Queen  bade  him  put  on  his  hat,  but 
he  courteously  replied  that  it  was  not  meet  for  him 
to  do  so  in  her  presence.  The  crowd  was  so  great 
and  the  heat  so  stifling,  that  Queen  Elizabeth  did 
not  remount  the  dais,  but  stood  near  a  window 
opening  on  the  Thames. 

The  Envoys  presented  to  her  Lansac,  an  artist, 
who  had  been  charged  by  Catherine  de'  Medici  to 
paint  her  picture.  Her  Majesty  said,  smiling, 
that  he  would  have  to  paint  her  with  a  veil  over 
her  face  so  that  she  might  not  appear  too  old. 

That  day  and  the  next  was  filled  with  entertain- 
ments, banquet  followed  banquet,  but  still  no  defi- 


188  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

nite  answer  could  the  Envoys  wring  from  the 
Queen.  At  a  grand  ball  given  at  Whitehall,  she 
urged  a  closer  alliance  between  England  and 
France,  but  refused  to  advance  with  the  marriage 
till  she  had  heard  again  from  Alen9on.  So  the  em- 
bassy was  forced  to  depart,  knowing  as  much,  and 
no  more,  of  Elizabeth's  intentions,  as  when  they  had 
started. 

Walsingham  complained  bitterly  of  the  situa- 
tion in  which  he  found  himself  as  Ambassador  to 
France.  "  When  they  (the  French)  "  he  said, 
"  press  Elizabeth  to  marry,  she  holds  before  them 
the  league,  and  when  they  ask  her  for  money,  she 
comes  back  to  the  marriage." 

When  the  Queen  was  a&'sured  that  Alen9on  was 
surely  coming  to  visit  her  again,  she  knew  that  she 
had  him  in  her  toils,  and  sent  word  that  she  would 
not  allow  him  now  even  a  private  Mass.  But  Alen- 
9on  felt  that  a  personal  suit  might  yet  win  for  him 
his  reluctant  bride,  and  trusting  to  his  powers  of 
love-making,  he  made  haste  to  cross  the  seas  once 
more.  He  felt  the  more  confidence  because  he  had 
forced  the  Prince  of  Parma  to  raise  the  siege  of 
Cambray.  The  determined  wooer  arrived  early 
in  November,  1581. 

f  The  Queen  feigned  to  be  delighted  at  his  arrival, 
receiving  him  with  smiles  and  blandishments,  and 
hailing  him  as  her  "  little  Italian,"  and  her  "  little 
frog  Prince."  In  spite  of  his  constant  attendance 
upon  her,  Alen9on  wrote  her  daily  love  letters, 
filled  with  extravagant  protestations. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  189 

The  Netherlands  were  urging  the  Duke  to  return 
to  them  and  be  installed  in  the  sovereignty.  Queen 
Elizabeth,  too,  added  her  pressure,  but  he  was  un- 
willing to  leave  her  until  he  had  gained  the  mar- 
riage. For  three  months  then  she  tried  every 
means  and  went  to  great  lengths  to  convince  him 
of  her  sincerity.  She  told  the  French  Ambassador 
to  write  to  his  master  that  Alen9on  should  be  her 
husband,  and  then,  in  the  presence  of  her  whole 
Court  and  the  foreign  Envoys,  kissed  her  "  Frog 
Prince  "  on  the  mouth,  and,  taking  a  ring  from  her 
own  finger,  placed  it  on  his.  This  occurred  on  the 
anniversary  of  her  Coronation  and  was  regarded 
by  those  present  as  a  definite  pledge  that  she  would 
marry  Alen9on.  The  French  and  the  Dutch,  who 
were  promptly  informed  of  this  scene  by  their 
Envoys,  showed  their  delight  by  kindling  great 
bonfires  and  setting  off  the  ordnance  guns. 

The  English  received  the  news  in  very  different 
manner.  Leicester,  Hatton  and  Walsingham 
stormed  and  remonstrated,  the  ladies  of  the  Court 
lamented  and  bewailed.  Cecil  alone  was  undis- 
mayed. "  Thank  God,"  he  said,  "  the  Queen  has 
done  all  she  can,  it  is  for  the  country  now  to  take 
the  matter  in  hand." 

Queen  Elizabeth  passed  a  sleepless  night  amid 
her  weeping  and  wailing  ladies.  The  next  morning 
she  sent  for  Alen9on.  She  looked  pale  and  shed  a 
few  tears.  "  Two  more  nights  such  as  the  last," 
she  said,  "  would  bring  me  to  the  grave."  She  told 
him  she  was  torn  by  the  conflicting  emotions  of  love 


190  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

f\  and  duty  and  that  "  although  her  affection  for  him 
/     was    undiminished,    she   had,    after    an    agonizing 
/       struggle,  determined  to  sacrifice  her  own  happiness 
to  the  welfare  of  her  people." 

Alen9on  flung  himself  out  of  the  room  in  a  great 
passion,  throwing  the  Queen's  ring  upon  the  floor, 
and  bitterly  railing  against  "  the  lightness  of 
women  and  the  inconstancy  of  islanders."  He 
then  demanded  instant  leave  to  return  to  the  Neth- 
erlands, but  Elizabeth  knew  she  could  not  afford 
to  let  her  rejected  suitor  depart  in  anger,  so  she 
implored  him  to  remain,  telling  him  she  intended 
to  marry  him  "at  a  more  auspicious  moment,  but 
at  present  she  was  compelled  to  do  violence  to  her 
own  feelings." 

The  Duke  allowed  himself  to  be  deceived  again 
and  tarried  for  several  weeks,  hoping  against  hope. 
While  he  lingered  the  Queen  continued  to  lavish 
upon  him  endearments  and  the  most  flattering 
attentions,  but  finally,  at  the  end  of  January,  she 
resolved  to  be  rid  of  her  importunate  wooer.  Tak- 
ing his  hand  in  hers,  she  told  him,  in  her  sweetest 
voice,  of  her  repugnance  at  marrying  a  Catholic. 
Thereupon  he  offered  to  become  a  Protestant. 
\T  "  We  cannot  command  our  hearts,"  she  an- 
/  swered,  and,  lowering  her  eyes,  confessed  that  "  she 

longer  felt  the  same  love  for  him."     The  Duke,    , 
rendered  desperate  at  seeing  the  prize  on  which  he 
counted  slipping  from  him,  cried  out  that  "  he  had 
endured  all  the  anguishes  of  passion  and  offended 
the  whole  Catholic  party  for  her  sake  and  that  he 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  191 

would  die  with  her  rather  than  leave  England 
without  her." 

"  It  is  a  shame  for  you  to  threaten  thus  an 
elderly  woman  in  her  own  kingdom,"  said  the 
Queen,  indignantly.  "  You  are  a  fool  and  you 
talk  like  a  fool."  At  this  the  tears  rolled  down 
his  cheeks,  whereupon  she  gave  him  her  handker- 
chief to  dry  them,  and  calmed  him  with  a  few 
caresses.  But  he  understood  that  this  was  a  defi- 
nite dismissal  and  that  he  had  proved  no  match  for 
the  clever  Queen,  who  had  completely  bent  him 
to  her  own  purposes.  He  was  ashamed  to  return 
to  France  without  his  bride  or  his  Belgian  pos- 
sessions, so  he  accepted  Elizabeth's  solemn  assur- 
ance that  she  would  marry  him  when  the  "  auspi- 
cious moment  "  should  arrive,  and  allowed  her  to 
ship  him  off  to  the  Netherlands. 

Queen  Elizabeth  then  told  Sussex  that  "  mar- 
riage had  always  been  distasteful  to  her,  and  now 
she  hated  it  more  every  day  for  reasons  which  she 
would  not  divulge  to  a  twin  soul,  if  she  had  one, 
much  less  to  any  living  creature." 

To  hasten  Ale^on's  departure,  the  Queen  armed 
some  vessels  and  ordered  levies  to  be  raised  for 
him.  Publicly,  she  affected  to  deeply  regret  his 
leaving  her,  and  presented  him  with  a  gift  of  £25,- 
000  to  keep  him  good-natured.  She  told  him 
that  "  a  wound  on  his  little  finger  would  pierce  her 
heart,"  and  urged  him  to  obtain  help  from  Henry 
III  against  Spain.  She  was  determined,  if  possi- 
ble, to  carry  out  her  cherished  plan  of  embroiling 


192  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

France  in  a  war  with  Spain.  She  forced  Leicester 
and  Hatton  to  attend  the  Duke  on  his  journey  to 
Holland,  threatening  them  with  dire  penalties  if 
they  showed  any  disrespect  to  "  the  person  she 
loved  best  in  the  world."  By  Leicester  she  sent 
secret  instructions  to  the  Prince  of  Orange  to 
keep  Alen9on  in  the  Netherlands  and  never  to  al- 
low his  return  to  England.  She  herself,  however, 
accompanied  the  luckless  youth  as  far  as  Canter- 
bury and  promised  to  marry  him  if  he  returned 
in  a  month.  She  took  an  affectionate  farewell  of 
him,  wept,  and  even  put  on  mourning,  but  really 
rejoiced  at  regaining  her  treasured  liberty. 

Tender  missives1  still  continued.  The  Queen 
wrote  that  "  she  wished  her  dear  frog  were  dis- 
porting in  the  clear  waters  of  the  Thames  rather 
than  in  the  sluggish  streams  of  Holland,"  and  de- 
clared that  she  would  marry  him  if  only  Henry  III 
would  keep  his  promise  of  giving  aid  against  the 
Spaniards.  But  the  French  King  refused  to  budge 
without  the  marriage,  the  failure  of  which  Eliza- 
beth now  blamed  him  for. 

Alen9on  rendered  himself  odious  to  the  Nether- 
lands by  acts  of  treachery.  Parma  was  capturing 
town  after  town,  and  in  1583,  Alen9on,  full  of 
shame  at  his  ill-success,  and  dying  of  consumption, 
left  Holland  forever.  He  died  a  year  later. 

With  the  death  of  Alen9on,  the  final  curtain  was 
rung  down  on  the  long  marriage  comedy,  from 
which  the  Virgin  Queen,  as  the  principal  actor,  had 
derived  so  much  amusement,  security  and  power. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  193 

The  long  negotiations  had  brought  so  much  ad- 
vantage to  England  that  the  comedy  could  be 
dropped  for  all  time.  The  once  mighty  Philip  was 
broken  and  weak,  Henry  III  was  enervated  and  in- 
capable, and  Catherine  de'  Medici,  so  long  the 
power  behind  the  Throne,  was  dying.  The  great 
Protestant  Queen  was  now  firmly  seated  at  the 
helm  of  government,  whence,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  marital  drama,  there  was  danger  of  her  being 
hurled  by  her  own  Catholic  subjects  in  conjunction 
with  the  Catholic  powers  on  the  Continent.  Her 
popularity  was  unbounded  among  all  classes  of  her 
subjects,  and  her  power  and  influence  were  pre- 
dominant in  Europe. 


XIV 

THE    CONDEMNATION    OF   THE    QUEEN 
OF  SCOTS 

Throckmorton's  plot  impressed  every  one  with 
the  great  danger  in  which  Queen  Elizabeth  stood, 
as  long  as  Mary  continued  to  live.  Accordingly 
the  Privy  Council  drew  up  a  "  Bond  of  Associa- 
tion." The  subscribers  to  this  promised  that  if 
the  Queen  was  murdered  they  would  not  accept  any 
one  as  her  successor  "  by  whom  or  for  whom  "  the 
assassination  would  be  perpetrated,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  would  "  prosecute  such  person  to  death." 
Even  Mary  herself  desired  to  be  among  the  eager 
signers  of  the  document  and  no  one  of  her  partisans 
ventured  to  withhold  their  signature.  But,  as 
this  bond  meant  nothing  without  the  sanction  of 
Parliament,  it  was  made  a  statute  in  1585,  and  en- 
acted that  "  any  person,  by  or  for  whom  re- 
bellion should  be  excited,  or  the  Queen's1  life 
attacked,  might  be  tried  by  commission  under  the 
Great  Seal  and  adjudged  to  capital  punishment. 
And,  if  the  Queen's  life  should  be  taken  away,  then 
any  person,  by  or  for  whom  such  act  was  com- 
mitted, should  be  capitally  punished,  and  the  issue 
of  such  person  cut  off  from  the  succession  to  the 

Crown." 

194 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  195 

The  Queen  of  Scots,  who  had  no  intention  of 
waiting  for  Elizabeth's  natural  death,  regarded  this 
new  decree  as  a  bill  of  exclusion,  and  consequently 
grew  more  reckless  and  desperate.  She  found  out 
now  that  James  had  never  purposed  to  share  his 
sovereignty  with  her,  as1  she  had  fondly  believed, 
but  had  actually  urged  the  English  Queen  not  to 
release  her,  and  was  enjoying  an  annual  pension 
from  her  of  £4,000. 

For  some  time  past,  Walsingham  had  found  a 
way  of  inspecting  all  of  Mary's  most  secret  corre- 
spondence, and  he  discovered  in  1586  that  she  was 
actively  encouraging  Babington's  plot  to  assassin- 
ate Queen  Elizabeth.  The  new  alliance  which, 
after  long  negotiation,  Jame&  had  concluded  in  this 
year  with  the  Queen  of  England,  without  making 
any  mention  of  Mary's  name,  had  highly  offended 
the  Scottish  Queen,  and  driven  her  to  desperate 
straits. 

Anthony  Babington  was  a  wealthy  Catholic,  who 
had  been  a  page  to  Mary  when  she  was  a  prisoner 
at  Sheffield.  He  was  induced  to  place  himself  at 
the  head  of  this  dastardly  plot  by  the  persuasions 
of  Ballard,  a  Catholic  priest,  and  Savage,  a  ruth- 
less desperado.  This  Savage  —  whose  name  seems 
singularly  appropriate, —  proposed  to  murder 
Queen  Elizabeth  with  his  own  hands.  But  Bab- 
ington, who  knew  that  the  Queen  was  not  of  the 
sort  to  fall  without  a  struggle,  insisted  that  the 
deed  ought  not  to  be  intrusted  to  a  single  man, 
but  that  five  others  should  lend  their  united 


196  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

strength  to  assist  Savage  in  assassinating  the 
Maiden  Monarch.  Some  of  these  conspirators, 
although  they  were  known  to  be  radical  Catholics, 
were  employed  at  Court  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  who 
still  persisted  in  her  reckless  confidence. 

The  project  of  these  unprincipled  desperadoes 
was  warmly  seconded  by  Mendoza,  who  was  now 
Spanish  Ambassador  in  Paris,  and  it  was  hoped 
that  at  the  time  of  the  assassination  the  Duke  of 
Parma  would  land  Spanish  troops  in  England  to 
aid  Mary.  Babington  intended  to  release  the 
Queen  of  Scots  himself  and  received  from  her  let- 
ters, approving  of  the  murder,  planning  its  details, 
and,  above  all,  praising  Babington's  coterie  of 
hired  assassins  and  holding  out  to  them  the  pros- 
pect of  large  rewards. 

Walsingham,  through  his  spies',  kept  watch  on 
every  move  of  the  conspirators,  but  allowed  them 
to  continue  their  plotting  until  he  was  assured  by 
actual  proof  that  the  Queen  of  Scots  was  deeply 
entangled  in  their  murderous  schemes. 

Elizabeth,  although  she  preserved  her  usual  in- 
trepid mien,  did  not  like  the  dangerous  situation 
in  which  she  stood,  with  a  band  of  desperate  fellows 
at  large,  who  had  sworn  to  take  her  life,  and  she 
urged  the  immediate  arrest  of  Ballard  and  Babing- 
ton. With  sound  good  sense,  she  said,  "  it  was  her 
duty  to  put  an  end  to  the  evil  designs  of  her  ene- 
mies, while  it  was'  in  her  power  to  do  so,  lest  by 
not  doing  it,  she  should  seem  to  tempt  God's  mercy, 
rather  than  manifest  her  trust  in  His  protection." 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  197 

But  Walsingham  prevailed  on  her  to  let  the  affair 
continue  for  a  few  days  longer. 

But  when  he  had  intercepted  the  letters  of  Mary 
to  the  French  and  Spanish  Ambassadors  asking 
them  to  procure  from  their  masters'  men  and  money 
to  aid  her  schemes,  he  thought  it  time  to  crush  the 
conspiracy  once  for  all.  So  he  ordered  the  arrest 
of  Ballard  and  Babington,  and  published  accounts 
of  the  plots  which  aroused  the  people  to  a  frenzy 
of  alarm  and  indignation  against  all  foreigners  and 
Catholics.  When  Babington  and  several  of  his 
accomplices  were  brought  under  strong  guard  to 
the  Tower,  the  people  who  followed  them  shouting 
with  joy  and  singing  psalms,  testified  their  over- 
whelming delight  at  the  Queen's  escape  from  their 
snares.  Bells  were  rung,  great  bonfires  were  kin- 
dled, and  every  one  was  filled  with  the  most  ardent 
devotion  toward  their  Sovereign. 

Mary  was1  removed  to  Fotheringay,  her  papers 
seized  and  her  secretaries,  Nau  and  Curl,  taken 
into  custody.  The  Queen  of  Scots  was  thrown 
into  a  great  rage  at  these  acts,  using  very  insulting 
language  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  demanding  that 
her  attendants  protect  her.  Finally  she  was  led 
away  forcibly  by  Paulet,  and  the  secretaries  placed 
under  arrest  in  Walsingham's'  house.  All  their 
papers  and  memoranda  were  examined  and  deci- 
phered in  the  presence  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  She 
kept  the  King  of  Scotland  informed  of  all  the  pro- 
ceedings through  a  man  named  Baillx.  Nau  and 
Curl  confessed  the  genuineness  of  the  letters  and 


198  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

that  they  were  indited  by  Mary.  Babington  also 
acknowledged  the  letters  and  ciphers  which  had 
passed  between  him  and  the  Queen  of  Scots. 

On  September  13,  1586,  seven  out  of  the  four- 
teen conspirators  were  impeached.  They  con- 
fessed their  guilt  and  the  whole  fourteen  were  put 
to  death.  The  lives  of  the  two  secretaries  were 
preserved. 

Many  persons  were  dissatisfied  with  the  com- 
posure and  indifference  which  Queen  Elizabeth 
manifested  at  this  time.  Walsingham  complained 
that  she  would  not  do  what  was  necessary  for  her 
safety  and  Secretary  Davison  desired  that  Bur- 
leigh  should  "  advise  her  to  be  more  circumspect  of 
her  person." 

Mary  was  now  in  the  position  provided  for  in 
the  recent  statute.  But  Queen  Elizabeth  was  still 
unwilling  to  bring  her  to  trial,  and  the  urgency  of 
all  her  ministers  was  necessary  before  she  would 
give  her  consent.  She  did  not  want  to  be  forced 
to  execute  Mary,  but  would  have  been  content  with 
a  private  investigation,  if  the  Scottish  Queen  would 
admit  her  guilt  and  sue,  in  all  humbleness,  for 
mercy. 

But  Mary  would  not  humble  herself  and  still 
loudly  protested  her  innocence.  A  trial  was  there- 
fore a  necessity. 

An  English  lawyer,  Robert  Beale,  in  a  letter 
dated  September  £5,  1586,  says:  "Concerning 
the  manner  of  dealing  with  her  .  .  .  she  should  be 
charged  on  two  points,  the  actions'  with  Norfolk, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  199 

and  the  conspiration  now.  For  I  take  it  that  she 
is  not  yet  discharged  of  the  first,  the  favour  which 
has  been  showed  her  being  rather  a  merciful  sus- 
pension of  Her  Majesty,  than  a  pardon  or  acquit- 
tal. Besides,  new  proofs  of  her  guilt  have  since 
then  been  discovered,  which  may  be  made  use  of. 
.  .  .  She  is  not  an  independent  Queen,  but  subject 
to  the  laws,  and  from  these  laws  she  will  derive  ad- 
vantage or  suffer  injury  according  to  her  behav- 
iour, nor  has  she,  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  any  right  to 
excite  conspiracies."  This  was  one  of  the  many 
and  varied  opinions  regarding  the  manner  of  pro- 
ceedings to  be  advanced  against  Mary. 

A  special  commission  in  accordance  with  the  new 
statute  was  appointed  consisting  of  forty-five  men, 
Peers,  Privy  Councillors  and  Justices,  who  went  to 
Fotheringay  to  try  the  Queen  of  Scots.  On  Octo- 
ber 6th  Elizabeth  sent  a  letter  to  her  informing  her 
that  since  she  still  protested  her  innocence  of 
Babington's  conspiracy  and  "...  forasmuch  as 
we  find,  by  clear  and  most  evident  proof,  that  the 
contrary  will  be  verified  and  maintained  against 
you,  we  have  found  it  therefore  expedient  to  send 
unto  you  divers  of  our  chief  and  most  ancient  No- 
blemen of  this  our  Realm,  together  with  certain  of 
our  Privy  Council,  as  also  some  of  our  principal 
Judges,  to  charge  you  both  with  the  privity  and 
assent  to  that  most  horrible  and  unnatural  at- 
tempt. .  .  .  And  therefore  we  do  both  require  and 
advise  you  to  give  credit  and  make  answer  to  that 
which  the  said  honourable  persons  so  authorized 


200  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

by  us,  shall  from  time  to  time,  during  their  abode 
there,  object  or  deliver  unto  you  in  our  name,  as 
if  it  were  ourself." 

On  the  next  day,  Queen  Elizabeth  sent  Burleigh 
and  Walsingham  instructions  as  to  the  course  of 
procedure.  "  If  Mary,"  she  directed,  "  wishes  to 
negotiate  more  confidentially  with  some  than  with 
all,  this'  is  to  be  permitted ;  as  many  persons  may 
be  troublesome  through  curiosity,  or  attempt  to 
force  themselves  in  with  bad  intentions,  they  are 
to  decide  who  are  to  be  permitted  to  the  examina- 
tions ;  as  also  whether  in  case  she  desires  to  hear 
her  servants  Nau,  Curl  and  Parker  personally,  to 
testify  those  things'  they  have  otherwise  confessed 
against  her,  it  shall  be  necessary  to  have  them 
there,  or  to  proceed  otherwise  without  them." 

Mary  was  not,  however,  confronted  with  her 
servants.  On  October  ISth,  the  Commissioners 
opened  their  court  at  Fotheringay.  When  Mary 
entered  the  hall  and  saw  that  a  throne  with  a  can- 
opy over  it  had  been  placed  for  Queen  Elizabeth, 
though  absent,  and  next  to  it  a  chair  for  herself, 
she  became  angry  and  declared  she  had  a  right  to 
sit  under  a  canopy  "  since  she  had  been  married  to 
a  King  of  France."  She  refused  to  make  any  an- 
swer to  the  charges,  saying  "  she  was  a  Queen,  that 
she  recognized  no  superior  upon  earth,  and  would 
answer  nobody  but  the  Queen  herself."  To  this 
speech  she  added  some  other  angry  expressions. 

When  this  was  reported  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  she 
immediately  wrote  a  letter  to  Mary  without  the 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  201 

superscription   of   sister   or   cousin,   as   was   cus- 
tomary.    This  letter  is  as  follows :  — 

"  You  have,  in  various  ways  and  manners,  at- 
tempted to  take  my  life,  and  to  bring  my  Kingdom 
to  destruction  by  bloodshed.  I  have  never  proceeded 
so  harshly  against  you,  but  have,  on  the  contrary, 
protected  and  maintained  you  like  myself.  These 
treasons  will  be  proved  to  you  and  all  made  manifest. 

Yet  it  is  my  will  that  you  answer  the  Nobles  and 
Peers  of  the  Kingdom  as  if  I  were  myself  present. 
I  therefore  require,  charge  and  command,  that  you 
make  answer,  for  I  have  been  well  informed  of  your 
arrogance. 

Act  plainly,  without  reserve,  and  you  will  sooner 
be  able  to  obtain  favour  of  me. 

ELIZABETH." 

The  Queen  of  Scots  still  refused  to  answer  the 
Lords,  but  did  tell  them  that  "  she  had  tried  by  ev- 
ery means  to  gain  her  liberty,  and  would  do  so  as 
long  as  she  lived,  but  she  had  never  plotted  against 
the  life  of  the  Queen,  or  had  any  connection  with 
Babington  and  the  others  for  this1  purpose,  but 
merely  for  her  liberation.  If  Elizabeth  questioned 
her  she  would  tell  the  truth."  She  admitted,  how- 
ever, that  she  had  plotted  with  Babington  to  bring 
a  foreign  army  into  England. 

After  sitting  two  days  at  Fotheringay,  the  Com- 
missioners adjourned  their  Court  to  Westmin- 
ster, where  the  Queen  of  Scots  was  pronounced 
guilty  on  October  25th.  The  rights  of  her  son  to 


202  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  English  succession  were  not  affected  by  this 
decision.  The  conspirators  persisted  in  their  dep- 
ositions up  to  the  moment  of  their  death  and  these 
agreed  fully  with  the  voluntary  confessions  of  Nau 
and  Curl.  These  affidavits,  together  with  the  let- 
ters found,  proved  Mary's  complicity  in  Babing- 
ton's  plot,  and  that  she  had  made  the  Pope  and  the 
King  of  Spain  offers  that  would  have  ruined  Eng- 
land and  made  it  entirely  dependent  upon  them. 
By  her  own  confession,  she  had  wished  and  encour- 
aged an  insurrection  in  the  Kingdom  and  the  land- 
ing of  foreign  troops. 

The  verdict  of  the  Commissioners  was  known  at 
once,  but  was  not  proclaimed  until  Parliament  was 
consulted  on  October  29th.  Here  all  the  proofs 
were  gone  over  again.  An  address  was  presented 
to  Queen  Elizabeth,  petitioning  her  to  consent  to 
Mary's  execution.  The  Speaker  rehearsed  the  of- 
fences of  the  Scottish  Queen  and  cited  instances 
of  the  putting  to  death  of  an  anointed  Sovereign. 
He  concluded  his  speech  by  assuring  her  that 
"  her  compliance  with  the  petition  would  be  most 
acceptable  to  God,  and  that  her  people  expected 
nothing  less  of  her."  She  gave  a  lengthy  and  am- 
biguous reply  speaking  of  her  great  love  for  her 
people,  her  extreme  reluctance  to  allow  her  kins- 
woman to  be  executed,  in  spite  of  the  grave  danger 
to  which  her  own  life  was  continually  exposed 
through  Mary's  plots,  and  urged  them  to  find  some 
other  expedient,  besides  the  death  of  the  Scottish 
Queen  for  preserving  peace  in  the  Kingdom.  The 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  203 

Parliament,  obeying  her  commands,  again  consid- 
ered the  affair,  but,  finding  no  other  possible  ex- 
pedient, renewed  their  solicitation,  arguments 
and  earnest  entreaties,  declaring  that  "  the 
Queen's  safety  could  no  way  be  secured  as  long  as 
the  Queen  of  Scots  lived,"  and  that  "  mercy  to 
her,  was  cruelty  to  them,  her  subjects  and  chil- 
dren." They  further  affirmed  that  it  was  injus- 
tice to  deny  the  execution  of  the  law  to  an  individ- 
ual, and  far  more  so  to  the  whole  body  of  the  people 
who  were  unanimously  beseeching  her  for  this  proof 
of  "  her  parental  care  and  tenderness."  Yet 
Queen  Eilzabeth  hesitated  to  give  her  consent.  In 
reply  she  complained  of  the  difficult  situation  she 
was  in,  how  uneasy  their  importunities  rendered 
her,  reiterated  her  professions  of  affection  for  her 
subjects,  and  then  dismissed  the  parliamentary 
committee  in  great  doubts  as  to  what  her  final 
decision  would  be. 

Elizabeth's  reluctance  to  put  the  Queen  of  Scots 
to  death  seems  most  genuine.  She  was  neither 
vindictive  nor  cruel,  and  cherished  no  enmity 
against  her  foes.  For  fifteen  years,  at  great  risk 
to  her  own  life,  she,  and  she  alone,  had  stood  be- 
tween Mary  and  the  scaffold.  She  was,  moreover, 
noted  for  her  clemency ;  so  far  in  her  long  reign 
only  two  Nobles  had  been  executed,  although  sev- 
eral had  amply  deserved  it.  She  was  singularly 
careless  of  her  personal  safety,  appearing  to  take 
pride  in  employing  about  her  person  those  whose 
intentions  there  was  reason  to  suspect.  She  had, 


204  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

too,  a  natural  disinclination  to  shed  the  blood  of  an 
anointed  Queen  —  a  dangerous  precedent  —  and 
her  own  kinswoman  at  that.  Furthermore,  she 
dreaded  the  undeserved  censure  that  she  clearly 
foresaw  would  be  visited  upon  her  for  sanctioning 
what  was  demanded  of  her  by  her  ministers  and  the 
majority  of  her  subjects.  Even  now  she  would 
have  preserved  Mary's  life  and  continued  a  target 
for  assassination,  as  she  had  been  ever  since  the 
Scottish  Queen  entered  her  Realm,  without  waiting 
for  her  permission,  had  she  not  been  fully  convinced 
that  to  do  so  would  be  an  act  of  supreme  and 
culpable  folly.  "  I  swear  by  the  living  God,"  she 
solemnly  affirmed  to  the  Scottish  Ambassador,  Sir 
William  Keith,  "  that  I  would  give  one  of  my  own 
arms  to  be  cut  off  so  that  any  means  could  be  found 
for  us  both  to  live  in  assurance."  But  the  re- 
moval of  the  Royal  intrigante  had  become  a  State 
necessity,  not  only  for  the  preservation  of  Eliza- 
beth's life,  but  for  the  preservation  of  the  Kingdom 
itself.  It  was  impossible  to  spare  longer  the  very 
fountain  head  of  treason. 

A  warrant  for  the  execution  was  drawn  up  after 
Parliament  had  adjourned,  and  all  through  De- 
cember and  January  Queen  Elizabeth's  ministers 
were  ceaselessly  urging  her  to  sign  it.  Still  she 
delayed,  she  would  and  she  would  not  allow  justice 
to  take  its  course.  In  the  meantime  the  French 
and  Scottish  Ambassadors  were  protesting  against 
the  execution.  James  made  some  blustering,  but 
half-hearted  attempts  to  save  his  mother,  but  he 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  205 

had  learned  of  a  plan  of  hers  for  kidnapping  and 
disinheriting  him  because  of  his  rigid  Protestant- 
ism, and  so  he  was  forced  to  regard  her  as  an  en- 
emy. 

Finally  on  February,  Queen  Elizabeth  was  pre- 
vailed upon  to  sign  the  warrant  in  the  presence  of 
Davison,  whom  she  had  lately  made  co-secretary 
with  Walsingham,  and  ordered  him  to  have  it 
sealed.  What  other  directions  she  may  have  given 
him  will  always  remain  shrouded  in  doubt,  for  the 
four  written  statements  of  Davison  and  his  answers 
at  his  trial  differ  in  important  details  from  one  an- 
other, as  well  as  from  the  Queen's  account.  Eliza- 
beth evidently  intended  the  execution  to  take  place, 
but  was  reluctant  to  give  the  necessary  definite  or- 
ders for  carrying  it  out.  Davison  admits  that  she 
managed  to  evade  this  responsibility,  "  For  in  the 
first  place  she  had  told  me  she  would  hear  no  more 
of  the  matter  till  it  was  over ;  she  had  done  what  the 
law  and  reason  required  of  her  .  .  .  only  she 
thought  that  it  might  have  received  a  better  form, 
because  this  threw  the  whole  burden  upon  herself." 

Here  Davison,  lacking  positive  orders,  and  fear- 
ing that  the  responsibility  might  be  shifted  upon  his 
shoulders,  laid  the  matter  before  Hatton  and  Bur- 
leigh,  although  the  Queen  had  commanded  strict 
secrecy,  "  because  if  it  became  known  prematurely, 
her  danger  might  be  the  greater."  Davison's  ap- 
prehensions had  been  roused  by  the  directions 
Queen  Elizabeth  had  sent  him  on  the  morning 
after  she  had  signed  the  warrant.  She  bade  him 


206  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

not  to  have  the  seal  affixed  until  she  had  spoken 
with  him.  When  he  informed  her  that  it  was  al- 
ready done,  she  said,  "  Why  such  haste  ?  " 

Burleigh  assembled  in  his  own  room  ten  of  the 
Privy  Councillors:  the  Earls  of  Leicester  and 
Derby,  Lords  Hunsdon,  Cobham,  and  Howard  of 
Effingham,  Hatton,  Walsingham,  Knollys,  and 
Davison.  He  told  them  Davison's  account  of  what 
had  happened  at  the  two  interviews  with  the 
Queen.  They  all  agreed  that  she  had  done  as 
much  as  honour,  law,  and  reason  could  expect,  and 
that  they  would,  and  ought  to,  take  the  remaining 
responsibility  upon  themselves  without  informing 
her.  Accordingly  a  letter  was  written  to  the  Earls 
of  Shrewsbury  and  Kent  directing  them  to  carry 
out  the  execution.  All  ten  signed  this  letter  and 
despatched  it  along  with  the  warrant. 

When  the  news  of  the  execution  arrived  on 
February  9th,  Burleigh  and  the  other  Councillors 
decided  not  to  inform  Queen  Elizabeth  suddenly, 
but  gradually  to  prepare  her  for  it.  The  whole 
day  passed  and  not  one  of  the  Council  ventured 
to  tell  her  what  had  happened  at  Fotheringay.  In 
the  evening  as  the  news  spread,  people  seemed  de- 
lirious with  joy;  bells  were  rung  and  bonfires  kin- 
dled all  over  London  and  vicinity. 

Queen  Elizabeth  asked  "  why  the  bells  rang  out 
so  merrily  ?  "  When  she  was  told  the  cause  she 
remained  a,  while  in  silence.  Says  Camden,  "  As 
soon  as  th£  report  of  the  death  of  the  Queen  of 
Scots  was  brought  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  she  heard 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  207 

it  with  great  indignation ;  her  countenance  altered ; 
her  speech  faltered  and  failed  her,  and  through 
excessive  sorrow  she  stood  in  a  manner  astonished, 
insomuch  that  she  gave  herself  over  to  passionate 
grief,  putting  herself  into  a  mourning  habit  and 
shedding  abundance  of  tears.  Her  Council  she 
sharply  rebuked,  and  commanded  them  out  of  her 
sight." 

"Elizabeth  sorroweth  not  a  little,  and  greatly 
rebuketh  the  popular  rejoicings,  by  banquetings 
and  bonfires  made  throughout  her  Realm,  for  that 
case,  and  heartily  wisheth  that  the  occasion  never 
had  been  given,"  says  a  contemporary  writer. 
"  The  only  cause  for  the  great  grief  that  Her 
Majesty  hath  conceived  ...  is  to  think  that  she, 
of  all  Christian  Princes,  should  be  made  the  first 
author  of  so  strange  a  precedent  in  justice,  and 
so  far  discrepant  and  contrary  to  her  nature,  to 
her  sex,  to  the  manner  of  her  life,  who  had  always 
professed  peace,  amity,  mercy  and  indulgence  to 
all  offenders,  even  her  greatest  enemies,  so  now  to 
be  driven,  afterkthe  process  of  a  long  and  glorious 
reign,  to  imbrue  her  hands  in  the  blood  of  a  Queen, 
a  kinswoman,  a  prisoner  of  so  many  years'  pre- 
serving, of  which  to  lose  all  the  thanks  and  glory 
in  a  day  must  needs  be  very  grievous.  Besides, 
Her  Ma j  esty  seeking  all  the  days  of  her  life  to  get 
good  renown  by  clemency  and  lenity,  to  make  her- 
self in  the  end  famous  by  an  action  of  so  apparent 
cruelty  and  by  so  dolourous  a  sentence  as  no  heart 
that  was  not  made  of  marble  or  flint  or  not  suffi- 


208  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

ciently  informed  of  the  said  lady's  evil  merits,  but 
might  worthily  seem  to  mourn  and  take  to  ruth." 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  naturally  infuriated  that 
ten  of  her  Council  had  dared  to  take  matters  into 
their  own  hands  and  act  independently  of  her  com- 
mands. She  was  all  the  more  angry  because  she 
realized  that  they  had  joined  together  in  self- 
defense.  For  a  time  she  forbade  Burleigh  to  enter 
her  presense  and  did  not  receive  him  into  favour 
again  until  he  had  written  the  most  abject  letters, 
entreating  her  forgiveness.  Walsingham,  too, 
came  in  for  a  large  share  of  her  anger  and  com- 
plained to  Leicester  "  behind  my  back  Her  Maj- 
esty giveth  out  very  hard  speeches  of  myself, 
which  I  the  easier  credit,  for  that  I  find  in  deal- 
ing with  her  I  am  nothing  gracious ;  and  if  Her 
Majesty  could  be  otherwise  served,  I  should  not  be 
used.  Her  Majesty  doth  wholly  bend  herself  to 
devise  some  further  means  to  disgrace  her  poor 
Council  that  subscribed,  and  in  respect  thereof  she 
neglecteth  all  other  causes." 

The  heaviest  burden  of  blame  fell  upon  the  luck- 
less Davison  for  revealing  to  the  Council  what  he 
had  been  commanded  to  keep  secret,  and  for  giving 
up  to  them  the  warrant  which  had  been  entrusted 
to  his  special  care.  For  these  offences,  he  was 
stripped  of  his  offices,  tried  before  a  special  com- 
mission, sentenced  to  pay  a  heavy  fine,  and  im- 
prisoned for  a  time  in  the  Tower. 

About  this  time  Burleigh  writes1:  "Her  Maj- 
esty was  altogether  ignorant  of  the  deed  (the  exe- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  209 

cution  of  Mary)  and  not  privy  thereto  until  a 
reasonable  time  after  the  same  was  done.  Besides 
her  royal  solemnly  given  word  that  she  is  ignorant 
of  this  transaction,  there  are  many  proofs  which 
testify  her  dislike  to  the  measure.  .  .  .  Now  for 
the  time  and  manner  of  the  fact  done  she  was  also 
ignorant,  and  so  all  of  her  Council  that  had  any 
knowledge  thereof  did  afterwards  confess,  that 
though  they  were  abused  by  one  of  the  Council, 
being  her  secretary,  whose  office  was  in  all  affairs 
to  deliver  unto  their  knowledge  Her  Majesty's  lik- 
ing and  misliking,  yet  in  very  truth  no  one  of  them 
was  able  to  show  any  other  proof  of  knowledge  of 
her  liking  but  the  report  colourably  uttered  by 
the  said  secretary.  .  .  .  She  fell  into  such  grief 
of  mind,  and  that  accompanied  with  vehement  un- 
feigned weeping,  as  her  health  was  greatly  im- 
paired. And  then  she  charged  all  her  Councillors 
most  bitterly  that  were  privy  thereto;  and  though 
they  did  affirm  that  they  thought  that  she  assented, 
as  they  were  informed  only  by  the  secretary,  yet 
she  furtherwise  commanded  the  secretary  to  the 
Tower,  who  confessed  his  abuse  in  the  report,  hav- 
ing no  such  declaration  to  him  made  of  Her  Maj- 
esty's assent;  and  commanded  the  greater  part 
of  her  principal  Councillors  to  places  of  restraint, 
banishing  a  great  part  of  them  from  her,  notwith- 
standing the  great  need  she  had  of  their  presence 
and  service  all  the  time;  a  matter  seen  in  her 
Court,  universally  misliked  to  see  her  so  greatly 
grieved  and  offended  for  a  matter  that  was  in  jus- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

tice  and  policy  most  necessary.  .  .  .  She  called  to 
her  five  of  her  judges  and  men  learned  in  law,  and 
directed  them  to  use  all  means'  possible  to  examine 
her  secretary  of  the  grounds  of  his  actions,  and 
how  many  were  privy  of  his  abuse,  and  also  the 
most  part  of  her  Privy  Councillors;  and  to  that 
end  gave  a  like  commission  to  a  number  of  Noble- 
men of  the  Realm,  though  not  Privy  Councillors, 
and  to  the  two  Archbishops,  and  to  all  the  chief 
judges  of  the  Realm,  who  did  very  exactly  proceed 
against  the  secretary,  upon  his  own  confession,  in 
public  place  of  judgment;  and  did  likewise  ex- 
amine the  rest  of  the  Council  upon  sundry  inter- 
rogations, tending  to  burden  them  as  offenders, 
and  finding  no  proof  against  them  of  anything 
material,  but  of  their  credulity  to  the  secretary, 
the  judges  of  the  commission  only  proceeded 
against  the  secretary  for  his  imprisonment  in  the 
Tower,  and  a  fine  of  1000  marks  for  his  contempt 
against  Her  Majesty,  the  process  of  which  sen- 
tence is1  to  be  publicly  seen  in  the  Court  of  Chan- 
cery." 

Davison's  principal  defense  consisted  in  his 
statement  that  he  believed  the  danger  to  Her  Maj- 
esty's person  was  so  imminent  by  her  allowing 
Mary  to  live  that  "  he  was  provoked  in  his  con- 
science to  procure  justice  to  be  done  without  Her 
Majesty's  consent  or  knowledge."  The  Earl  of 
Sussex  spoke  in  Davison's  favour  to  Queen  Eliza- 
beth and  told  her  how  patiently  he  bore  his  punish- 
ment. She  seemed  affected  at  hearing  this, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

praised  his  former  conduct,  but  would  make  no 
promises  to  restore  him  to  favour.  On  another 
occasion  she  said  to  Burleigh,  "  I  can  do  nothing 
for  Davison  without  exciting  suspicion  that  he  is 
innocent." 

James  was,  at  first,  very  angry  at  hearing  of  his 
mother's  execution,  but  he  was  soon  appeased,  for 
his  own  interests'  drew  him  close  to  the  English 
Queen  and  his  subjects  gave  him  but  little  sym- 
pathy. But  Queen  Elizabeth,  apprehensive  lest  a 
coalition  should  be  formed  against  her  by  Spain, 
Scotland,  and  France  for  the  invasion  of  England, 
sought  to  pacify  their  respective  Courts  by  writing 
them  letters  in  which  she  vehemently  protested  her 
grief  and  indignation  at  the  execution  of  the 
Queen  of  Scots.  The  relations  of  Mary,  especially 
the  Duke  of  Guise,  spoke  so  violently  against  Queen 
Elizabeth  that  Unton,  the  English  Ambassador  at 
Paris,  challenged  him  three  times  to  a  duel.  The 
Duke,  however,  was  more  active  with  his  tongue 
than  with  his  sword  and  did  not  care  to  fight  for 
his  opinions. 

Chateauneuf,  the  French  Ambassador,  in  a  re- 
port to  Henry  III  writes :  "  I  did  not  wish  to 
speak  of  the  Queen  of  Scotland;  but  Queen  Eliza- 
beth seized  my  hand,  and  led  me  into  a  corner  of 
the  apartment,  and  said,  '  Since  I  have  seen  you,  I 
have  met  with  the  greatest  vexation  and  the 
greatest  misfortune  that  has  happened  to  me  in 
the  whole  course  of  my  life;  I  mean  the  death  of 
my  cousin.'  She  swore  by  God,  and  with  many 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

oaths  that  she  was  innocent  of  it.  She  said  the 
sentence  had  indeed  been  signed  by  her,  but  only 
to  quiet  her  subjects',  and  on  the  same  ground  she 
had  withstood  the  intercession  of  the  French  and 
Scottish  Ambassadors.  '  But  in  truth,'  she  went 
on,  '  I  never  intended  that  she  should  be  executed ; 
only  if  a  foreign  army  had  been  landed  in  England. 
or  an  insurrection  had  broken  out  in  favour  of 
Mary,  in  such  case,  I  confess  I  might  perhaps  have 
suffered  her  to  die,  but  never  in  any  other  case. 
My  Councillors1,  among  others  four  who  are  now  in 
my  presence,  have  played  me  a  trick,  whereof  I 
cannot  quiet  myself.  As  true  as  God  lives,  if  they 
had  not  served  me  so  long,  if  they  had  not  done 
it  in  the  persuasion  that  it  would  tend  to  the  wel- 
fare of  their  country  and  their  Queen,  I  would  have 
had  their  heads  cut  off!  Do  not  think  that  I  am 
so  malevolent  as  to  throw  the  blame  on  an  insignifi- 
cant secretary  if  it  were  not  so,  but  this  death  for 
many  reasons,  will  be  a  weight  upon  my  mind  as1 
long  as  I  live.' ' 

On  July  3rd,  occurred  at  Peterborough  the 
solemn  obsequies  of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  with 
many  Lords,  Ladies  and  clergymen  in  attendance. 
The  Countess  of  Bedford  acted  as  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's proxy,  and  officiated  as  chief  mourner.  The 
body  of  Queen  Mary  was  interred  on  the  right 
side  of  the  choir,  opposite  the  tomb  of  Katherine  of 
Aragon.  Prior  to  the  funeral,  the  secretaries1,  Nau 
and  Curl,  were  set  at  liberty  and  all  their  pos- 
sessions restored  to  them,  after  they  had  signed 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

a  declaration  before  the  Council  that  their  testi- 
mony was  true  "  and  given  without  force,  violence 
or  bribe." 

Thomas  Wright  says,  in  referring  to  the  tragedy 
of  the  ill-fated  Queen  of  Scots :  "  There  is  per- 
haps in  all  history  no  greater  moral  lesson  than 
that  furnished  by  these  two  Queens, —  the  one, 
ascending  the  Throne  with  the  good-will  of  her  own 
subjects,  and  supported  by  the  Pope  and  the  most 
powerful  nations  in  Europe,  lost  her  Crown  by  her 
own  crimes  and  vices,  threw  disgrace  on  the  cause 
she  was  expected  to  have  made  victorious,  dragged 
on  a  large  portion  of  her  life  in  a  prison  and  ended 
it  on  a  scaffold;  while  the  other,  surrounded  on 
every  side  by  the  bitterest  enemies,  with  none  but 
God  and  her  own  comparatively  weak  resources  to 
depend  upon,  by  her  virtue  and  prudence,  raised 
her  Kingdom  to  a  high  state  of  glory,  made  her 
subjects  rich  and  happy,  and  lived  to  see  all  the 
schemes  of  her  enemies  broken." 

NOTE. — The  story,  sometimes  repeated,  that  Queen 
Elizabeth  urged  Paulet  and  Drury  to  execute  Mary 
privately  and  that  they  refused,  rests  solely  on  the 
more  than  doubtful  evidence  of  two  letters  —  and 
copies  at  that  —  alleged  to  have  passed  between  the 
secretaries,  Walsingham  and  Davison,  and  Paulet. 
There  seems  no  doubt  that  letters  had  passed  relative 
to  putting  Mary  to  death,  but  as  the  real  letters  have 
never  been  found  it  is  not  possible  to  tell  what  man- 
ner of  execution  was  urged.  The  charge  that  it  was 
a  private  murder  is  based  only  on  two  alleged  copies 


2H  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

of  the  original  letters,  which  had  probably  been  de- 
stroyed. These  copies  did  not  appear  until  1722, 
when  they  were  brought  forward  by  Dr.  George 
Mackenzie,  a  fiery  partisan  of  Mary.  He  says  that 
a  copy  of  them  was  found  among  Paulet's  papers  and 
sent  to  him.  Two  years  later  they  were  printed  by 
an  Oxford  Jacobite,  and  he  too  states  that  he  got  them 
from  a  copy  sent  him  by  a  friend  who  copied  them 
in  1717  from  a  letter-book  belonging  to  Paulet.  Then 
there  is  also  a  MS.  copy  of  these  oft-copied  letters  in 
the  Harleian  library,  and  this  is  full  of  erasements 
and  corrections.  This  letter-book  of  Paulet's  is  miss- 
ing as  well  as  the  originals  of  these  two  letters. 
These  copies  cleverly  fit  in  with  Davison's  statement, 
and  seem  to  have  been  constructed  in  1717  for  the 
very  purpose  of  putting  a  bad  meaning  on  the  state- 
ment. (See  Beesly's  Queen  Elizabeth.) 


XV 

"  THE  INVINCIBLE  ARMADA  " 

The  execution  of  the  Queen  of  Scots  brought 
on  the  long-threatened  and  inevitable  war  with 
Spain.  For  thirty  years  Queen  Elizabeth  had 
dealt  her  great  enemy,  Philip  of  Spain,  repeated 
and  covert  attacks,  just  enough  to  cripple  his 
power,  without  actually  rousing  him  to  war.  If 
the  Queen  had  allowed  herself  to  be  guided  by  the 
ablest  of  her  ministers,  she  would  have  entered 
upon  this  struggle  twenty-five  years1  earlier,  at  a 
time  when  England  was  unarmed,  disunited  and 
burdened  with  the  debts  of  three  preceding  reigns, 
but,  with  shrewd  sagacity  and  dexterous  manage- 
ment, she  firmly  and  successfully  staved  off  the 
final  contest  until  England  had  reached  a  summit 
of  prosperity  and  strength  never  before  attained 
to.  During  all  these  years  of  expectation,  the 
English  Queen  had  been  steadily  bettering  the  con- 
dition of  the  country,  paying  off  the  debts  of  her 
predecessors,  amassing  a  modest  surplus,  enroll- 
ing and  training  a  large  militia  and  creating  a 
navy,  which,  though  it  would  be  considered  small 
in  these  days,  aroused  the  admiration  of  her  sub- 
jects. Henry  VIII  was  the  only  Sovereign  who 
215 


216  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

had  any  idea  of  maintaining  a  navy,  but,  under 
Edward  and  Mary,  this,  like  everything  else,  went 
to  ruin.  So  the  royal  navy  was  fairly  created  by 
Elizabeth,  and  proved  adequate  for  all  her  pur- 
poses. These  ships,  which  were  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  the  Queen,  were  kept  in  excellent 
trim  and  were  ready  for  active  service  at  short 
notice.  The  Queen,  though  economical  in  this,  as 
in  other  respects,  raised  the  wages  of  the  officers 
and  sailors  and  saw  that  everything  was  kept  in 
readiness  for  action.  At  the  time  of  the  Armada, 
however,  some  terrified  persons  seemed  to  fear  that 
there  was  undue  economy  exercised  in  regard  to 
the  navy. 

While  Queen  Elizabeth  was  arming  and  strength- 
ening England,  she  was  at  the  same  time  arousing 
the  ire  of  Philip  by  the  encouragement  she  gave 
to  his  Netherlands  rebels  and  her  tacit  consent  to 
Drake  and  other  rovers  of  the  sea,  when  they  at- 
tacked Spanish  vessels  and  carried  off  their  treas- 
ure. In  addition  to  these  other  incentives,  Philip 
was  urged  on  by  the  Pope  to  depose  the  excom- 
municated Queen  of  England,  and  he  would  have 
declared  war  long  before  he  did,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  condition  of  his  decreasing  treasury,  his 
disputes  with  France,  and  the  rebellion  in  the 
Netherlands.  But  now  the  Scottish  Queen  had 
bequeathed  to  him  her  claim  to  the  English  Throne 
and  urged  him,  with  her  last  message,  to  make 
the  threatened  invasion,  and  so  the  vessels  and 
troops  which  were  collected  in  the  Spanish  ports, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

presumably  to  send  against  the  Netherlands,  were 
now  openly  directed  toward  England. 

Philip's  determination  immediately  to  invade 
England  was  intensified  by  an  exploit  of  Sir 
Francis  Drake,  who  sailed  boldly  into  Cadiz  har- 
bour and  destroyed  over  eighty  of  Philip's  vessels. 
He  then  sailed  to  the  coast  of  Portugal  and  defied 
the  Spanish  Admiral  to  come  out  and  engage  in 
a  naval  battle  with  him,  and  finally  returned  home 
laden  with  spoils.  These  piratical  ventures  of 
Drake  and  other  daring  seamen  had  long  been 
winked  at  by  the  Queen  and  her  ministers.  But 
Philip,  thinking  that  the  preparations  for  his 
gigantic  armament  were  now  sufficiently  in 
progress  to  intimidate  the  Maiden  Majesty  of 
England,  sent  her  by  his  Ambassador  insulting 
conditions  of  peace  in  the  form  of  a  Latin  tetras- 
tic.  The  following  English  rendering  has  been 
given  :* 

"  Belgic  rebels  aid  no  more, 
Treasures  seized  by  Drake  restore; 
And  whate'er  thy  sire  o'erthrew, 
In  the  Papal  Church  renew." 

But  little  did  Philip  know  the  fearless  spirit  of 
the  "  lioness  of  the  Tudors." 

"  Ad  Graecas,  bone  rex,  fient  mandata  Kalen- 
das,"  was  the  contemptuous  message  she  sent  back. 
The  popular  translation  of  it  is: 

*  Miss  Strickland's  Queen  Elizabeth. 


218  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

"  Mighty  king,  lo,  this  thy  will 
At  latter  Lammas  we'll  fulfil." 

The  literal  version  is,  "  Good  king,  your  com- 
mand shall  be  fulfilled  at  the  Greek  Kalends." 
Now  as  the  Greeks  never  reckoned  by  Kalends, 
Queen  Elizabeth's  bold  and  witty  reply  could  only 
be  taken  as  a  veritable  challenge,  and  so  Philip 
took  it. 

The  Pope,  Sixtus  V,  in  the  hope  of  depriving 
the  Queen  of  the  allegiance  of  her  Catholic  sub- 
jects, reiterated  the  edict  of  excommunication 
passed  upon  her  by  his  predecessors  and  pro- 
claimed that  Papal  Europe  should  start  a  crusade 
against  the  intrepid  champion  of  Protestantism. 
Queen  Elizabeth  was  urged  to  avert  a  probable 
Catholic  revolt  by  massacring  the  leading  men  of 
that  belief  throughout  the  Kingdom.  But  she 
turned  with  horror  from  the  proposition,  refusing, 
too,  to  confine  a  large  number  of  them  as  was  also 
suggested.  Her  clemency  and  wisdom  were  re- 
warded by  the  zeal  with  which  the  Catholics  rallied 
to  her  support. 

While  warlike  preparations  were  being  made  on 
both  sides,  Elizabeth  continued  her  long  negotia- 
tions with  Spain  in  regard  to  the  Netherlands. 
She  had  no  intention  of  betraying  her  Dutch  allies1 
to  Philip,  but  she  was  willing  to  make  peace,  if 
he  would  grant  to  the  Protestants  of  the  Nether- 
lands the  same  toleration  that  she  allowed  her  own 
Catholics.  They  were  not  to  be  interrogated 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  219 

about  their  religion,  but  there  was  to  be  no  public 
worship  or  converting.  The  old  constitution  was 
to  be  revived,  which  would  necessitate  the  with- 
drawal of  the  foreign  troops.  The  Queen  sin- 
cerely wished  the  Dutch  Provinces  to  return  to 
their  allegiance,  if  she  could  persuade  or  force 
Philip  to  grant  them  the  liberties  which  they  had 
formerly  enjoyed.  It  is  greatly  to  Elizabeth's 
credit  that  she  never  sought  to  involve  her  sub- 
jects in  the  expenses  of  needless1  war,  but  always 
desired  peace  when  it  did  not  mean  the  surrender- 
ing of  any  important  interest.  The  English 
honoured  her  now  for  her  persevering  attempts  at 
reconciliation  with  their  old  ally.  They  had  good 
reason  to  be  confident  that  she  would  sacrifice  no 
important  advantage  and  would  strike  back,  as  she 
always  had,  if  hostile  designs  were  intended.  As 
Philip  was  not  wise  enough  to  grant  the  conces- 
sions she  asked  for,  but  instead  began  to  show  him- 
self openly  aggressive,  she  went  on  preparing  for 
war  against  him.  Nevertheless,  it  was  painful  for 
Queen  Elizabeth  to  see  the  money  that  she  had 
carefully  accumulated  by  strict  economy  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  ceaseless  vortex  of  military  expendi- 
ture, and  she  doled  out  with  a  reluctant  hand  an 
amount  that  was  barely  adequate  in  some  instances. 
Every  day  fresh  rumours  reached  London  of 
the  increase  of  Philip's  colossal  naval  force,  which 
the  Spaniards  had  already  confidently  denomi- 
nated the  "  Invincible  Armada."  But  Queen 
Elizabeth,  undismayed  by  that  power  by  which  all 


220  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  nations  of  Europe  feared  she  must  be  over- 
whelmed, coolly  continued  her  spirited  plans  for 
defense.  Her  forces  indeed  seemed  very  inade- 
quate to  withstand  so  mighty  an  enemy,  whose 
whole  vast  Empire  had  now  become  a  recruiting 
ground  for  that  huge  armament  which  was  to  sweep 
the  last  of  the  Tudors  from  her  Throne.  The 
highest  nobility  of  Spain  and  Italy  hastened  to 
join  Philip's  army  under  the  Duke  of  Parma,  a 
consummate  general.  Troops  were  levied  from  all 
quarters,  Spain,  Italy,  Germany,  Flanders,  the 
Netherlands  and  other  places. 

The  Protestants  of  Europe  regarded  this  in- 
vasion as  the  crisis  which  would  decide  the  fate  of 
their  religion,  and,  though  their  distance  prevented 
them  from  joining  forces  with  the  warlike  Eng- 
lish Queen,  they  watched  with  fear  and  admiration 
the  undaunted  mien  with  which  she  faced  the 
gigantic  armament  now  advancing  upon  the  island 
Kingdom. 

Queen  Elizabeth  appointed  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
Lieutenant  General  of  the  land  forces  stationed 
at  Tilbury  to  protect  London,  Lord  Hundson  she 
placed  in  command  of  her  Body  Guard,  but  she 
herself  was  nominal  general  of  both  armies.  There 
was  widespread  enthusiasm  and  courage  among 
her  subjects  from  the  nobility  down.  The  Queen 
began  to  fit  out  the  fleet  for  war  November  1,  1587, 
but  set  about  it  so  vigourously  that  the  ships  were 
ready  December  28,  1588,  under  the  able  com- 
mand of  Lord  Howard  of  Effingham,  whom  she 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  221 

made  Lord  High  Admiral  of  England ;  Sir  Francis 
Drake  was  her  Vice-Admiral.  On  land  20,000 
men  were  stationed  along  the  southern  coasts. 
The  royal  Body-Guard  consisted  of  &4,000  foot 
and  2000  horse.  Trained  bands  were  posted  all 
along  the  sea-counties  to  meet  in  arms  at  signals' 
and  to  defend  the  coasts.  In  case  the  Spaniards 
should  succeed  in  landing,  they  were  to  devastate 
that  part  of  the  country,  leaving  no  forage  for 
the  enemy. 

The  Queen  wrote  letters  to  the  most  influential 
of  her  subjects  near  the  sea-coast,  saying  that  she 
expected  on  that  extraordinary  occasion  a  larger 
number  of  foot  and  horse,  and  that  these  must  be 
certified  to  the  Privy  Council.  The  Lords  of  the 
Council,  at  Her  Majesty's  request,  wrote  to  the 
nobility,  bidding  them  provide  themselves,  their 
servants,  and  dependents  with  armour  and  horses. 

Queen  Elizabeth  also  directed  a  letter  to  Wal- 
singham,  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal,  saying  that 
"  for  the  better  understanding  of  the  intended  in- 
vasion of  this  Realm  upon  the  great  preparations 
made  by  the  King  of  Spain,  both  by  sea  and  land, 
the  last  year,  the  same  having  been  such  as  the  like 
was  never  prepared  yet  any  time  against  this 
Realm,"  she  ordered  him  to  tell  the  Lieutenants  of 
each  county  that  she  required  "  from  her  loving 
subjects  an  extraordinary  aid,  by  way  of  a  loan, 
for  the  defense  of  the  country." 

London  willingly  furnished  20  ships,  with  10,000 
well-armed  and  trained  men;  $0,000  more  men 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

acted  as  a  reserve.  All  ranks  of  people  eagerly 
volunteered,  Catholics  as  well  as  Protestants. 

The  army  of  defense  was  stationed  at  Tilbury, 
the  ground  having  previously  been  surveyed  and 
trenches  dug.  Gravesend  was  likewise  fortified. 
All  the  shires  and  cities  with  their  trained  soldiers 
awaited  hourly  the  pleasure  of  their  Warrior 
Queen.  When  the  soldiers  were  commanded  to  set 
forth  for  the  rendezvous  at  Tilbury,  they  marched 
cheerfully,  bravely,  and  full  of  eagerness  to  at- 
tack the  Spaniards.  In  the  warlike  enthusiasm 
of  the  moment,  Queen  Elizabeth  was  led  into  the 
extraordinary  act  of  bestowing  knighthood  on  a 
woman,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Sir  Hugh  Cholmondeley 
of  Vale  Royal,  who  had  expressed  her  martial 
aspirations  in  loyal  and  valiant  terms  at  that  time. 

On  May  29th,  1588,  the  "  Invincible  Armada  " 
sailed  proudly  forth  from  the  Bay  of  Lisbon,  con- 
fident of  victory.  Off  Cape  Finisterre  a  storm 
from  the  west  did  much  damage  to  the  tall,  un- 
wieldly  galleons,  and  compelled  their  inexperienced 
commander,  the  Duke  of  Medina-Sidonia,  to  with- 
draw into  the  harbour  of  Corunna  to  repair  his 
shattered  fleet.  This  catastrophe  was  reported 
in  England  as  the  complete  destruction  of  the 
armament.  Queen  Elizabeth,  yielding  to  her  love 
of  economy,  ordered  Lord  Admiral  Howard  to  dis- 
mantle at  once  four  of  her  largest  ships  of  war. 
But  Lord  Howard  was  not  so  sanguine  of  victory 
as  his  Sovereign,  so  he  generously  promised  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  with  his  own  purse,  and  retained 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  vessels.  On  July  19th,  after  long  and  anxious 
watching,  Howard  was  informed  that  the  Armada 
was  rounding  Lizard  Point,  so  he  at  once  left  the 
harbour,  and  hastened  forth  to  meet  it  on  the  high 
seas.  "  The  next  day,"  writes  Camden,  "  the  Eng- 
lish descried  the  Spanish  ships,  with  lofty  turrets, 
like  Castles,  in  front  like  a  half-moon,  the  wings 
thereof  spreading  out  about  the  length  of  seven 
miles,  sailing  very  slowly,  though  with  full  sails, 
the  winds  being,  as  it  were,  tired  with  carrying 
them,  and  the  ocean  groaning  with  the  weight  of 
them."  While  Howard,  Drake,  Hawkins,  and  Fro- 
bisher  gallantly  and  stoutly  attacked  the  pon- 
derous squadron,  England's  fearless  Queen,  by  her 
courageous  bearing,  inspired  her  subjects  with 
intense  enthusiasm  and  eager  desire  to  fight. 

Queen  Elizabeth's  ardent  wish  was  to  proceed 
in  person  to  the  coast  in  order  to  be  the  first  to 
repel  the  invaders,  in  case  they  should  effect  a  land- 
ing. She  was  finally  persuaded  from  this  by  the 
entreaties  of  her  Council  and  took  up  her  residence 
at  Havering  Bower,  centrally  located  between  the 
van  and  the  rear  of  her  army,  and  at  a  convenient 
distance  from  London. 

On  July  SO,  1588,  the  massive  galleons  came 
sweeping  proudly  up  the  Channel  where  they  were 
attacked  in  the  rear  by  the  English  ships  coming 
out  from  their  harbours.  The  Spaniards  had  the 
advantage  in  number,  size,  and  equipment,  but  the 
English  vessels  though  smaller,  were  swifter  and 
more  easily  managed  than  the  floating  castles  of 


224  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

King  Philip.  The  Queen's  ships,  of  which  there 
were  34,  did  almost  all  the  work.  During  the 
Channel  fight  there  was  no  unfavourable  weather 
or  tempestuous  wind. 

The  grandest  moment  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  life 
has  been  held  to  be  that  day  on  which  she  rode, 
in  martial  array,  to  visit  her  loyal  camp  at  Til- 
bury, while  her  gallant  sailors  were  boldly  assail- 
ing the  Spaniards  on  the  high  seas.  Between  the 
fort  and  the  camp,  Sir  Roger  Williams  at  the 
head  of  2000  horse,  met  Her  Majesty.  He  divided 
his  troops  into  two  divisions,  one  to  go  before  her 
and  the  other  behind  to  guard  her  person,  and 
then,  together  with  2000  foot  soldiers,  conducted 
her  to  a  house  about  three  miles  from  the  camp, 
where  she  was  to  pass  the  night. 

On  the  next  morning,  the  Maiden  Monarch,  clad 
in  the  grim  accoutrements  of  war,  with  a  mar- 
shal's staff  in  her  hand,  and  mounted  upon  a  hand- 
some charger,  rode  majestically  before  the  camp, 
and  presented  herself  to  the  army  assembled  there 
to  receive  her.  She  had  forbidden  any  of  her  ret- 
inue to  follow  her,  and  was  attended  only  by  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  and  the  Earl  of  Ormond,  who 
bore  the  Sword  of  State  before  her.  She  rode 
bareheaded  and  was  followed  by  a  page,  carrying 
her  white-plumed  helmet.  Upon  her  breast  she 
wore  a  steel  corselet,  and  beneath  it  descended  an 
enormous  farthingale.  As1  the  Warrior  Queen, 
like  Boadicea  of  old,  rode  between  the  lines,  with 
smiling  and  intrepid  countenance,  reining  in  her 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

spirited  charger  with  majestic  grace,  she  was  re- 
ceived with  loud  acclamations  and  thunders  of 
applause.  "  Her  presence  and  princely  encour- 
agement, Bellona-like,"  writes  Camden,  "  infused 
a  second  spirit  of  love,  loyalty,  and  resolution  into 
every  soldier  in  her  army,  who,  being  as  it  were, 
ravished  with  their  Sovereign's  sight,  that  as  well 
commanders  as  common  soldiers  quite  forgot  the 
fickleness  of  fortune  and  the  chance  of  war,  and 
prayed  the  Spaniards  might  land  quickly." 

As  soon  as  Queen  Elizabeth  could  make  herself 
heard  above  the  thunderous  acclamations,  she  ad- 
dressed her  troops  in  the  following  royal  and  cour- 
ageous speech :  "  My  loving  people, —  we  have 
been  persuaded  by  some  that  are  careful  of  our 
safety  to  take  heed  how  we  commit  ourselves  to 
armed  multitudes  for  fear  of  treachery;  but  I  do 
assure  you  I  do  not  desire  to  live  to  distrust  my 
faithful  and  loving  people.  Let  tyrants  fear;  I 
have  always  so  behaved  myself  that  under  God  I 
have  placed  my  chiefest  strength  and  safeguard 
in  the  loyal  hearts  and  good-will  of  my  subjects; 
and,  therefore,  I  am  come  amongst  you  as  you  see 
at  this  time,  not  for  my  recreation  and  disport, 
but  being  resolved,  in  the  midst  and  heat  of  the 
battle,  to  live  or  die  amongst  you  all  —  to  lay  down 
for  my  God  and  for  my  Kingdoms  and  for  my 
people,  my  honour  and  my  blood  even  in  the  dust. 
I  know  I  have  the  body  of  a  weak,  feeble  woman ; 
but  I  have  the  heart  and  stomach  of  a  King  — 
and  a  King  of  England,  too,  and  think  foul  scorn 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

that  Parma,  or  Spain,  or  any  Prince  of  Europe, 
should  dare  to  invade  the  borders  of  my  Realm; 
to  which  rather  than  any  dishonour  should  grow 
by  me,  I  myself  will  take  up  arms  —  I  myself  will 
be  your  general,  judge,  and  rewarder  of  every  one 
of  your  virtues  in  the  field.  I  know  already,  for 
your  forwardness,  you  have  deserved  rewards  and 
crowns,  and  we  do  assure  you,  on  the  word  of  a 
Prince,  they  shall  be  duly  paid  you.  For  the 
meantime,  my  Lieutenant-General  shall  be  in  my 
stead,  than  whom  never  Prince  commanded  a  more 
noble  or  worthy  subject;  not  doubting  but  by  your 
obedience  to  my  general,  by  your  concord  in  the 
camp,  and  your  valour  in  the  field,  we  shall  shortly 
have  a  famous  victory  over  the  enemies  of  my 
God,  of  my  Kingdoms,  and  of  my  people." 

As  Queen  Elizabeth  finished  this  inspiring  ad- 
dress, the  applause  and  acclamations  grew  deafen- 
ing, and  the  soldiers  responded  by  unanimously 
exclaiming,  "  Is  it  possible  that  any  Englishman 
can  abandon  such  a  glorious  cause,  or  refuse  to 
lay  down  his  life  in  defense  of  this  heroic  Prin- 
cess ?  "  Among  that  whole  armed  multitude  there 
seemed  not  one  whose  heart  did  not  glow  with 
fervent  devotion  to  his  dauntless  Queen  and  a  firm 
determination  to  die,  if  need  be,  for  her  sake, 
when  he  saw  her  there  in  the  midst,  her  woman's 
breast  sheathed  in  the  warrior's  steel  and  heard 
her  stirring  speech.  In  a  letter  of  Leicester's 
written  about  this  time,  he  says,  "  The  Queen  so 
inflamed  the  hearts  of  her  good  subjects  as  I  think 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  weakest  person  amongst  them  is  able  to  match 
the  proudest  Spaniard  that  dares  land  in  Eng- 
land." Lord  Burleigh  in  a  letter  to  Leicester 
writes :  "  She  is  very  careful,  as  a  good  natural 
Prince,  although  in  such  a  case  as  this,  somewhat 
too  scrupulous,  to  have  her  people  adventured  in 
fights  " —  yet  she  fearlessly  exposes  herself  at  the 
head  of  her  troops,  he  complains. 

Cheering  reports  were  sent  in  of  Her  Majesty's 
fleet,  but  there  were  grave  apprehensions  that  the 
Duke  of  Parma  with  the  Flemish  armament  and 
navy  was  planning  to  land  in  England.  How- 
ever, in  a  rigourous  contest  in  the  narrowest  part 
of  the  Channel  between  Calais  and  Dover,  a  num- 
ber of  the  heavy  Spanish  vessels  were  sunk  or 
driven  ashore  on  the  coasts  of  France  and  Flan- 
ders, and  the  news  of  Parma's  coming  was  found 
to  be  false.  The  Armada  then  attempted  to  seek 
a  haven  at  Calais,  but  the  wind  had  risen  to  such 
a  gale  that  they  could  not  anchor  there  nor  in 
the  harbours  of  Flanders.  A  few  days  later,  the 
"  Invincible  Armada,"  broken,  scattered,  and  its 
best  commanders1  lost,  was  being  driven  far  to  the 
north  by  the  tempestuous  wind  behind  it.  One 
part  of  the  English  fleet  returned  to  the  Channel  to 
guard  it  from  other  attacks,  while  another  part 
under  Lord  Howard  pursued  the  shattered  pride 
of  Spain  as  far  as  was  consistent  with  safety  and 
the  want  of  ammunition,  for  the  heavy  drains  made 
on  the  treasury  by  the  expenses  of  war  were  dis- 
tressing to  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  she  had  doled  out 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

but  a  limited  supply  of  military  stores  to  her  gal- 
lant sailors.  In  the  wild  storm  that  was  raging, 
the  Spanish  fleet,  reduced  from  150  ships  to  120, 
attempted  to  reach  Spain  by  a  desperate  voyage 
around  the  north  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  where 
many  of  the  towering  galleons  were  dashed  to 
pieces  on  the  reefs.  Finally,  one-third  of  that  vast 
fleet  which  had  set  sail  so  confidently,  and  consider- 
ably less  than  one-third  of  its  men,  reached  home 
again.  The  losses  of  the  English  were  extraordi- 
narily small;  in  the  first  seven  days  of  the  Chan- 
nel fight,  they  lost  hardly  a  man ;  in  the  last  battle 
they  lost  about  60  men  and  one  ship,  and  that 
not  one  of  the  Queen's.  Of  all  the  Nobles  who 
served  in  the  fleet,  it  is  not  recorded  that  one  of 
them  was  even  wounded.  For  the  next  ten  years 
the  war  with  Spain  was  continued,  but  the  English 
were  almost  invariably  successful  and  the  military 
prestige  of  Spain  was  lessened. 

Upon  the  Queen's  return  from  Tilbury,  she  was 
met  at  her  landing  at  Westminster  by  great  crowds 
of  Noblemen  and  gentlemen  who  accompanied  her 
to  St.  James  Palace,  and,  for  many  days  after, 
entertained  her  with  martial  pageants,  tourna- 
ments, and  tilts.  The  whole  Kingdom  was  in  a 
delirium  of  joy  and  gratitude.  Special  services 
were  held  in  all  the  churches  in  honour  of  the 
victory.  November  17th  was  enthusiastically 
celebrated,  both  because  of  the  victory  and,  espe- 
cially, because  it  was  the  anniversary  of  Her  Maj- 
esty's accession.  Queen  Elizabeth  was  to  have 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  229 

been  present  at  the  celebration,  but  for  some  reason 
was  unable  to  attend. 

Medals  were  struck  off  and  money  was  coined 
in  commemoration  of  the  defeat  of  the  "  Invinci- 
ble," some  with  the  picture  of  a  fleet  flying  under 
full  sail,  with  the  inscription,  "  Venit,  vidit, 
fugit  —  It  came,  it  saw,  it  fled."  Others  in 
special  compliment  to  the  Virgin  Queen,  bore  the 
picture  of  the  English  ships  scattering  the  Spanish 
fleet,  with  this  motto,  "  Dux  femina  facti  —  a 
woman  the  leader  of  the  enterprise."  Scholars  at 
home  and  abroad  commemorated  the  victory  of 
England's  Maiden  Queen  in  triumphal  poems 
written  in  all  languages.  James  Aske  wrote  an 
especially  long  poem  in  honour  of  the  Queen's 
victories  over  all  her  enemies  from  the  beginning 
of  her  reign.  It  is  entitled  "  Elizabetha  Tri- 
umphans,"  and  a  part  of  it  runs : 

"  So  dear  a  darling  is  Elizabeth, 
Renowned  Queen  of  this  renowned  land, 
Renowned  land,  because  a  fruitful  soil: 
Renowned  land  through  people  of  the  same, 
And  thrice  renowned  by  this  her  Virgin  Queen, 
A  Maiden  Queen,  and  yet  of  courage  stout, 
Through  wisdom  rare,  for  learning  passing  all." 

Queen  Elizabeth  bestowed  a  pension  on  Lord 
Admiral  Howard,  her  brave  kinsman,  and  told  him 
that  "  she  considered  him  and  his  officers  as  per- 
sons born  for  the  preservation  of  their  country." 
The  other  commanders  and  captains  she  greeted 


230  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

kindly  by  name  whenever  she  saw  them,  telling 
them  that  they  were  men  who  "  deserved  praise 
from  her  and  the  country."  The  soldiers  and  sea- 
men who  were  wounded  or  poor  she  relieved  with 
large  pensions. 

On  Sunday,  November  24th,  Queen  Elizabeth 
went  in  state  to  St.  Paul's  to  celebrate  the  national 
triumph.  She  was  attended  by  the  members  of  the 
Privy  Council,  a  great  number  of  Lords,  spiritual 
and  temporal,  the  French  Ambassador,  heralds  and 
trumpeters,  all  mounted  on  horseback.  Her  Maj- 
esty rode  in  a  "  chariot-throne,"  with  a  rich  canopy 
overhead,  on  top  of  which  was  the  crown  imperial, 
and  on  two  pillars  in  front  were  a  lion  and  a  dragon, 
supporting  the  arms  of  England.  The  splendid 
chariot  was  drawn  by  two  white  horses,  and  sur- 
rounded by  footmen  and  pensioners ;  behind  it  rode 
the  Earl  of  Essex,  the  Master  of  the  Horse,  leading 
the  Queen's  palfrey  of  State,  richly  caparisoned; 
after  him  rode  a  great  number  of  ladies  of  honour 
and  on  each  side  of  them  walked  the  Guard,  in 
magnificent  coats,  carrying  halberds. 

When  the  Queen  reached  Temple  Bar,  an  officer 
of  the  Privy  Chamber  gave  her  "  a  jewel  contain- 
ing a  crapon  or  toadstone  set  in  gold."  She  ac- 
cepted this  very  graciously,  and  said  it  was  the 
first  gift  she  had  received  that  day.  A  little  later, 
she  was  presented  with  a  book,  called  "  The  Light 
of  Britain."  At  Temple  Bar,  the  Mayor  and 
Aldermen,  in  their  scarlet  robes,  received  and  wel- 
comed her  to  the  city.  The  Mayor  then  mounted 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

his  horse  and  rode  before  her,  bearing  the  mace. 
The  guards  of  the  city  in  their  uniforms  stood 
upon  elevated  platforms  covered  with  blue  cloth, 
and  saluted  the  Queen  all  the  way  to  St. 
Paul's. 

Between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  Queen  Elizabeth 
descended  from  her  chariot  at  the  great  west  door 
of  the  church,  where  she  was  received  by  the  Bishop 
of  London,  the  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  and  more  than 
fifty  other  ecclesiastics,  all  in  gorgeous  copes,  for 
the  magnificent  vestments  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church  were  still  used  on  great  festival  occasions. 
As  the  Queen  entered  the  church  her  train  was 
borne  by  the  Marchioness  of  Winchester.  Her 
Majesty  knelt  down  and  offered  hearty  thanks  to 
God;  when  her  prayers  were  finished,  she  was  con- 
ducted under  a  rich  canopy,  through  the  west 
aisle  to  her  traverse  in  the  choir,  the  clergy  singing 
the  Litany.  When  this  was  ended,  she  was  at- 
tended to  a  closet  especially  constructed  for  her 
use,  on  the  north  wall  of  the  church,  toward  the 
pulpit  cross.  After  hearing  a  sermon  by  the 
Bishop  of  Salisbury,  Her  Majesty  went  back 
through  the  church  to  the  Bishop's  Palace  where 
she  dined.  She  returned  to  her  residence  at 
Somerset  House  in  the  manner  of  her  starting,  but 
with  the  addition  of  a  great  number  of  lighted 
torches.  On  this  same  day,  prayers  and  psalms 
were  appointed  to  be  said  for  the  victory  in  all 
the  parish  churches. 

Bishop  Goodman  gives  a  description  of  Queen 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Elizabeth's  demeanour  a  few  weeks  after  the  van- 
quishing of  the  Armada. 

"  I  did  then  live  in  the  Strand,"  he  writes,  "  near 
St.  Clement's  Church,  when  suddenly  there  was  a 
report  (it  was  then  December,  about  five  and  very 
dark)  that  the  Queen  was  gone  to  Council,  and  I 
was  told,  '  If  you  will  see  the  Queen,  you  must 
come  quickly.'  Then  we  all  ran,  when  the  Court 
gates  were  set  open,  and  no  man  hindered  us  from 
coming  in ;  there  we  staid  an  hour  and  a  half,  and 
the  yard  was  full,  there  being  a  great  number  of 
torches,  when  the  Queen  came  out  in  great  state. 
Then  we  cried  — 

"  <  God  save  Your  Majesty ! ' 

"  And  the  Queen  turned  to  us  and  said,  '  God 
bless  you  all,  my  good  people.' 

"  Then  we  cried  again,  '  God  save  Your  Maj- 
esty ! '  And  the  Queen  said  again  to  us,  '  Ye  may 
well  have  a  greater  Prince,  but  ye  shall  never  have 
a  more  loving  Prince.'  And  so  the  Queen  and  the 
crowd  there,  looking  upon  one  another  a  while,  Her 
Majesty  departed.  This  wrought  such  an  im- 
pression upon  us,  for  shows  and  pageants  are  best 
seen  by  torch-light,  that  all  the  way  long  we  did 
nothing  but  talk  of  what  an  admirable  Queen  she 
was,  and  how  we  would  all  adventure  our  lives  in 
her  service." 


XVI 
QUEEN  ELIZABETH  REVISITS  OXFORD 

On  Friday,  September  22,  1592,  Her  Majesty 
rode  in  a  splendid  open  chariot  to  Godstow  Bridge, 
about  a  mile  from  the  City  of  Oxford.  Here  she 
was  met  by  the  Vice-Chancellor,  the  heads  of  the 
colleges,  the  Proctors  and  Beadles,  all  on  foot  and 
attired  in  their  gowns,  according  to  their  degrees. 

The  Queen  stopped  her  chariot,  and  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  went  through  the  usual  ceremony  of 
handing  the  beadles'  staffs  to  the  Sovereign,  who 
handed  them  back  and  announced  her  willingness 
to  listen  to  a  speech  "  so  that  it  were  not  too  long, 
on  account  of  the  foulness  of  the  weather." 

Then  the  representatives  of  the  University,  who 
were  all  upon  their  knees,  rose,  and  the  Senior 
Proctor  delivered  a  short  oration,  showing  "  what 
great  joy  the  University  had  conceived  by  Her 
Majesty's  approaching  so  near  unto  them,  and  that 
in  the  name  of  the  whole  body,  for  the  better  mani- 
festing of  their  dutifulness,  he  was  to  yield  up 
unto  Her  Majesty,  the  liberties,  privileges,  houses, 
colleges,  temples,  goods,  with  themselves  also,  and 
whatsoever  they  were  by  Her  Majesty's  goodness 

possessed  of,  with  their  most  instant  and  dutiful 
233 


234  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

prayers  for  the  long  and  blessed  preservation  of 
Her  Highness." 

From  here,  the  Queen  and  her  train  rode  on  to 
within  half  a  mile  of  Oxford  where  they  were  re- 
ceived by  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen.  The  Re- 
corder of  the  city  made  a  speech  of  welcome  and 
presented  the  Royal  visitor  with  "  a  silver-gilt  cup 
with  sixty  angels  therein." 

As  Queen  Elizabeth  entered  the  city,  riding  be- 
tween rows1  of  scholars  drawn  up  on  both  sides 
of  the  streets,  she  was  received  by  the  people  with 
enthusiastic  acclamations,  testifying  to  their  loy- 
alty and  devotion;  while  the  students  loudly 
shouted  "Vivat  Regina  —  long  live  the  Queen !  " 
and  handed  her  orations  and  verses  in  writing,  for 
which  she  thanked  them  briefly  in  Latin,  and  gave 
them  her  blessing.  The  Greek  Reader  made  a 
lengthy  speech  in  Greek,  and  Her  Majesty  listened 
to  this  with  gracious  attention. 

From  here  she  passed  on  to  her  lodgings  in 
Christ  Church,  still  riding  through  the  double 
rows  of  scholars  in  their  gowns,  silken  hoods  and 
caps. 

On  Saturday  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  Her  Majesty,  attended  by  her  ret- 
inue, went  to  St.  Mary's  Church.  She  rode  in 
her  richly  decorated  carriage  of  State,  and  the 
Nobles  followed  on  horseback. 

Upon  reaching  the  church,  Queen  Elizabeth  took 
her  seat  under  a  crimson  canopy  upon  an  elevated 
platform  specially  erected  for  her  at  the  east  end 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  235 

of  the  buildings  near  the  choir.  "  A  Philosophy 
act  was  provided  for  Her  Highness."  The  pro- 
ceedings were  opened  by  Her  Majesty,  who  gave 
the  command,  "  Incipiatis." 

Then  the  Proctors,  after  three  low  bows  to  their 
Sovereign,  set  forth  the  questions  to  be  answered. 
The  Answerer,  who  was  the  Orator  of  the  Uni- 
versity, consumed  half  an  hour  in  his  responses,  at 
which  the  Queen  showed  visible  signs  of  weariness 
and  impatience.  When  the  Proctors,  according  to 
the  custom,  said  to  the  Replier,  "  Procede,  Magis- 
ter  —  proceed  Master,"  Her  Majesty,  thinking 
this  was  addressed  to  the  Answerer,  cried,  "  He 
has  been  already  too  long." 

The  Replier  made  an  oration  to  the  Queen.  In 
the  first  part  of  his  speech,  he  excused  his  dis- 
ability to  speak  fittingly  in  "  that  honourable 
presence,"  and  then  went  on  to  discuss  the  ques- 
tions of  the  debate.  Elizabeth  was  greatly  pleased 
with  his  quick,  witty  answers,  and  plainly  showed 
her  approval.  The  next  scholar  who  came  for- 
ward, in  the  excitement  of  the  debate,  forgot  his 
bows  entirely,  and  did  not  address  the  Queen  at 
all,  but  dealt  with  the  Answerer,  as  though  the 
august  visitor  were  not  there.  The  last  Replier 
made  no  preliminary  speech  either,  but  his  apt  re- 
sponses so  pleased  Her  Majesty  that  she  com- 
manded him  in  Latin  to  continue  his  argument, 
even  after  the  Proctors  had  cut  him  off. 

The  Master  of  Martin  College  ended  the  ques- 
tions by  a  long  speech,  thanking  the  Queen,  "  for 


236  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

her  great  patience  in  listening "  and  concluded 
"  by  a  long  discourse  concerning  such  as  God,  by 
Her  Highness,  had  bestowed  upon  us,  and  upon 
many  foreign  nations  and  Princes  by  Her  High- 
ness' means."  After  this  the  Queen  retired  to  her 
lodgings. 

During  the  whole  of  Her  Majesty's  stay  at  Ox- 
ford, a  sermon  in  English  was  preached  in  one  of 
the  town  churches  every  morning  at  the  same  place 
and  hour.  Three  beadles  were  appointed  to  at- 
tend upon  the  Sovereign  whenever  she  appeared  in 
public.  These  men,  in  magnificent  gowns  with 
gold  chains  about  their  necks,  were  placed  next 
in  order  before  the  Sergeants-at-Arms.  The  en- 
trance to  St.  Mary's  Church  was  watched  by  the 
Guard,  armed  with  halberds,  to  prevent  any  knock- 
ing at  the  doors,  for  this  was  annoying  to  the 
Queen.  Besides  the  elevated  stage  built  purposely 
for  Her  Majesty,  a  lower  platform  was  erected  on 
two  sides  of  the  church  for  the  debaters,  but  there 
was  no  platform  at  the  west  end  in  order  to  allow 
better  air  to  pass  to  the  Maiden  Monarch  and  also 
to  prevent  any  one  from  sitting  opposite  her.  The 
Answerers,  as  was  customary,  sat  in  the  middle 
of  the  church,  and  the  platform  of  the  debaters  was 
conspicuously  lower  than  that  upon  which  Queen 
Elizabeth  was'  seated,  in  regal  splendour  under  a 
canopy  of  State.  No  one,  save  the  Lord  Cham- 
berlain, the  Marchioness  of  Winton,  and  two  or 
three  other  favoured  ladies,  were  allowed  at  the 
end  of  the  stage  near  the  Royal  Presence. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  237 

On  Sunday  night  the  comedy  "  Bellum  Gram- 
maticale  "  was  played  before  the  Queen  in  the  hall 
of  Christ  College.  Although  the  performance  was 
marred  by  poor  acting,  it  was  patiently  and 
graciously  received  by  Her  Majesty. 

On  Monday,  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council,  who 
had  accompanied  their  Royal  Mistress  to  Oxford, 
dined  in  the  common  hall  of  Martin's  College,  after 
which  a  debate  on  Philosophy  was  held.  The  argu- 
ment was  whether  dissensions  of  the  citizens  were 
useful  to  the  nation.  The  Senior  Proctor  took 
advantage  of  this  discussion  to  praise  the  Lord 
Treasurer,  Burleigh,  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  and 
the  Earl  of  Essex  for  his  valiant  services  in  the 
Low  Countries1,  Portugal  and  Spain. 

On  Tuesday  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
Queen  Elizabeth  with  her  train,  went  to  St.  Mary's 
and  heard  a  debate  on  Natural  Philosophy.  This 
was  settled  by  a  certain  Giles  Thompson  of  All 
Souls'  with  a  learned  speech.  He  said  he  would 
not  stop  to  praise  the  Queen  and  her  Nobles,  "  for 
that  their  virtues  were  greater  than  that  they  could 
be  sufficiently  recommended  by  him."  The  argu- 
ments of  the  Repliers  greatly  pleased  the  Queen. 

One  of  the  questions  for  discussion  was  "  Quod 
acre  magis  mutantur  corpora  humana  quam  cibo  et 
potu  —  whether  that  the  air,  or  meat  or  drink  did 
most  change  man."  Up  rose  "  a  merry  Doctor  of 
that  Faculty,  named  Richard  Ratcliff,  going  about 
to  prove  the  negative,  he  showed  forth  a  big,  large 
body,  a  great  fat  belly,  a  side  waist,  all  as  he  said, 


238  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

so  changed  with  meat  and  drink,  desiring  to  see 
any  there  so  metamorphosed  by  the  air."  But 
in  spite  of  this  novel  and  convincing  argument,  the 
decision  went  against  him. 

On  this  same  day  in  her  Presence  Chamber,  the 
Queen  heard  an  oration  by  the  Vice-Chancellor  and 
was  given,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  University, 
two  Bibles,  one  in  Greek  and  the  other  in  Latin. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  Her  Majesty  listened 
to  disputations  on  Law  and  Divinity.  The  de- 
bate was  closed  by  the  Bishop  of  Hereford,  who 
delivered  a  lengthy  speech  in  which  he  "  gave  a 
petition  unto  Her  Highness  for  her  gracious  par- 
don, if  anything  had  unadvisedly  passed,  wherein 
they  or  any  of  the  University  had  offended."  In 
conclusion,  "  he  gave  thanks  unto  Her  Highness  in 
the  name  of  the  honourable  Chancellor,  of  himself, 
and  the  rest  of  the  Doctors,  and  the  whole  company 
of  students  for  her  most  gracious  favour  in  vouch- 
safing them  again  Her  Highness'  presence,  after 
six  and  twenty  years,  in  that  place  and  at  those 
exercises." 

The  good  Bishop  was  so  long  in  ending  his 
speech  that  Queen  Elizabeth  grew  exceedingly 
weary,  and  twice  ordered  him  to  cut  it  short,  say- 
ing she  intended  to  make  a  public  speech  herself 
that  night.  But  the  Bishop  answered  that  "  He 
could  not  put  himself  out  of  a  set,  methodical 
speech,  for  fear  he  should  mar  all,  or  else  confound 
his  memory."  When  he  finally  did  draw  his  ora- 
tion to  a  close,  Her  Majesty  was  so  tired  that  she 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

promptly  returned  to  her  lodgings,  without  mak- 
ing the  proposed  address. 

The  next  morning,  however,  she  summoned  the 
Heads  of  the  colleges  to  her  apartments,  and  spoke 
her  mind  to  them  in  Latin.  She  sharply  rebuked 
the  President  of  Corpus  Christi  College  "  for  his 
obstinate  preciseness,"  and  ordered  him  to  "  fol- 
low her  laws  and  not  run  before  them."  Then  she 
began  a  speech  in  Latin,  but  noticing  that  the 
Lord  Treasurer  Burleigh  was  standing  on  his  lame 
foot,  she  hastily  ordered  a  chair  for  him,  and  would 
not  continue  her  address  until  she  saw  him  seated. 

This'  little  incident,  showing  Queen  Elizabeth's 
regard  for  her  faithful  minister,  was  commented 
upon  by  one  of  the  Doctors  as  an  instance  of  Her 
Majesty's  ability  to  interrupt  herself  in  the  midst 
of  a  set  speech  and  not  be  put  out,  a  thing  which 
the  Bishop  dared  not  try  on  the  day  before. 

After  her  speech,  the  Queen  talked  with  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  and  the  Doctors  a  little  while,  and  then 
dismissed  them. 

She  departed  from  Oxford  about  noon  of  that 
same  day.  As1  she  set  out  from  the  University, 
in  her  coach  of  State,  the  people  of  the  town  gave 
her  their  best  wishes,  mingled  with  tears  at  her 
departure.  When  Her  Majesty  saw  the  eulogistic 
verses  written  in  her  honour,  posted  on  the  walls 
of  the  colleges,  she  graciously  nodded  and  smiled 
to  the  scholars  who  were  lustily  shouting  "  Vivat 
Regina !  " 

After  she  heard  a  lengthy  farewell  oration  de- 


240  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

livered  by  the  Junior  Proctor,  she  gave  many 
thanks,  and,  as  she  rode  away,  looked  back  wist- 
fully at  the  University,  saying  in  Latin,  "  Fare- 
well, farewell,  dear  Oxford,  God  bless  thee,  and 
increase  thy  sons  in  number,  holiness,  and  virtue." 


XVII 
THE  PRIVATE  LIFE  OF  THE  QUEEN 

Queen  Elizabeth  always  began  the  day  by  as- 
siduous attendance  at  prayers,  after  which  she 
would  busy  herself  with  affairs  of  State.  She  was 
an  indefatigable  worker  and  used  to  rise  before 
dawn  every  morning  to  transact  business  with  her 
Secretaries  of  State  and  other  officials.  She  then 
caused  orders  in  Council,  proclamations,  and  all 
other  public  papers  to  be  read,  and  gave  orders 
concerning  each  of  them,  which  were  set  down  in 
brief  notes  by  herself  or  her  Secretaries.  When 
she  had  finished  her  State  duties,  she  would  take  a 
walk  in  a  shady  garden,  or,  if  it  was  rainy  and 
windy,  in  a  long  gallery,  with  no  attendants  but 
a  few  learned  men  in  whose  conversation  she  de- 
lighted. She  took  especial  pleasure  in  talking 
with  scholarly  travellers,  of  whom  she  asked  many 
questions  concerning  the  government  and  customs 
abroad.  After  her  walk  or  a  frugal  meal  Her 
Majesty  generally  took  her  coach,  and  before  the 
eyes  of  her  admiring  subjects,  rode  to  neighbour- 
ing groves  and  fields  or  sometimes  to  hunt  or  hawk. 
Scarcely  a  day  passed  in  which  she  did  not  spend 
a  portion  of  it  reading  history  or  pursuing  some 
241 


£4£  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

other  serious  study.  All  through  her  life  she  took 
delight  in  reading  and  translating  Latin  and  Greek 
authors.  Seneca's  moral  essays  especially  inter- 
ested her.  Sometimes  she  pursued  her  studies  be- 
fore her  State  duties,  and  sometimes  afterward. 
She  slept  but  little,  ate  very  sparingly,  seldom 
drank  wine,  and  was  a  religious  observer  of  fast 
days.  She  sometimes  dined  alone,  but  more  often 
in  company  with  a  few  cherished  friends.  In  the 
summer  time,  her  diet  was  even  more  frugal  than 
customarily,  and  at  meal  time  she  would  always 
have  the  windows  wide  open,  for  she  was  a  lover  of 
fresh  air. 

When  she  dined  in  public,  her  table  was  mag- 
nificently served,  and  there  were  many  side  tables 
adorned  with  costly  plate.  There  was  an  especial 
show  of  regal  splendour  when  she  entertained  for- 
eign Ambassadors.  At  these  times  many  of  the 
highest  nobility  waited  upon  her  very  rever- 
entially, but  she  was  served  at  all  times  on  the 
knee.  At  these  banquets  she  would  order  vocal 
and  instrumental  music  during  the  dinner,  and 
afterwards  all  would  join  in  a  dance.  Her  Majesty 
was  an  exceedingly  graceful  dancer,  and  kept  up 
this  amusement,  as  a  sort  of  exercise,  to  the  end 
of  her  life. 

At  supper  she  diverted  herself  with  her  friends 
and  attendants,  drawing  them  into  merry  and 
pleasant  conversation  by  her  gracious  affability. 
After  supper  she  would  often  listen  to  a  song  or 
a  piece  or  two  played  upon  the  lute.  She  would 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

then  also  admit  Tarleton,  a  famous  comedian,  and 
other  such  men,  encouraging  them  to  tell  her 
stories  of  the  town,  what  had  happened  there,  and 
some  sprightly  jests  they  had  heard;  but  she  al- 
ways showed  strong  displeasure  at  sarcastic  jokes 
aimed  at  any  one  present,  or  at  unseemly  tales. 
Tarleton,  however,  pointed  so  many  ill-natured 
thrusts  at  Raleigh  and  Leicester  that  the  Queen 
finally  forbade  him  or  any  of  her  jesters  to  come 
near  her  table. 

In  the  evening  she  frequently  recreated  herself 
with  a  game  of  chess,  dancing,  or  singing.  She 
often  played  at  cards,  and,  if  she  won,  always 
asked  for  the  money.  When  she  retired  to  her 
Privy  Chamber,  she  was  attended  by  married  ladies 
of  the  nobility,  chief  among  whom  were  the 
Marchioness  of  Winchester,  the  widowed  Lady 
Warwick,  and  her  own  kinswoman,  Lady  Scrope. 
Leicester,  Hatton,  Essex,  Her  Majesty's  cousin, 
Lord  Admiral  Nottingham,  and  Raleigh,  were 
the  chief  ones  who  had  entree  to  this  apartment. 
When  Queen  Elizabeth  felt  herself  becoming  sleepy, 
she  dismissed  those  who  were  present  with  kind- 
ness and  dignified  grace,  and  then  went  to  rest. 
Some  lady  of  high  rank,  who  enjoyed  her  favour 
and  esteem,  always  slept  in  the  same  chamber  with 
her;  and  besides  the  guards  who  were  constantly 
on  duty  outside  the  Royal  bedchamber,  there  was 
always  a  gentleman  of  good  quality  and  some 
others  up  in  the  next  room  to  wake  her  if  any 
disturbance  occurred. 


244  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

"  She  loved  a  prudent  and  moderate  habit  in  her 
private  apartments  and  conversation  with  her  own 
servants;  when  she  appeared  in  public,  she  was 
ever  richly  adorned  with  the  most  valuable  clothes, 
set  off  again  with  much  gold  and  j  ewels  of  inestima- 
ble value,  and  on  such  occasions  she  ever  wore 
high  shoes  that  she  might  seem  taller  than  indeed 
she  was1.  On  the  first  day  of  Parliament,  she 
would  appear  in  a  robe  embroidered  with  pearls, 
the  royal  crown  on  her  head,  the  golden  ball  in  her 
left  hand,  and  the  sceptre  in  her  right;  and,  as 
she  never  failed  then  of  the  loud  acclamations  of 
the  people,  so  she  was  ever  pleased  with  it,  and 
went  along  in  a  kind  of  triumph  with  all  the  en- 
signs of  majesty.  The  Royal  name  was  ever 
venerable  to  the  English  people,  but  this  Queen's 
name  was  more  sacred  than  any  of  her  ancestors. 
In  the  furniture  of  the  Palace  she  ever  affected 
magnificence  and  extraordinary  splendour.  .  .  . 
She  was  a  true  lover  of  jewels,  pearls,  all  sorts  of 
precious  stones,  gold  and  silver  plate,  rich  beds, 
fine  couches  and  chariots,  Persian  and  Indian  car- 
pets, statues1,  medals,  etc.,  which  she  would  pur- 
chase at  great  prices.  ...  At  Hampton  Court  she 
had  caused  her  naval  victories  against  the  Spanish 
to  be  worked  in  fine  tapestries  and  laid  up  among 
the  richest  pieces  of  her  wardrobe."  * 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  very  watchful  of  the  morals 
of  her  Court,  and  dismissed  from  her  service  ladies 
who  erred  in  this  respect.  She  also  visited  her 

*  Bohun. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  245 

strong  displeasure  upon  gentlemen  of  easy  morals, 
often  delaying  the  promotion  of  otherwise  deserv- 
ing men  until  they  reformed. 

The  ceremonial  of  the  Virgin  Court  was  like  that 
of  the  East.  No  person  of  any  rank  ventured 
to  address  the  Queen  except  upon  their  knees.  All 
the  ministers  of  State  did  likewise  during  their 
business  hours,  with  the  exception  of  Burleigh,  who 
was  excused  from  this  when  he  grew  old  and  infirm. 

Hentzner,  a  German  traveller,  who  visited  Eng- 
land toward  the  close  of  Her  Majesty's  reign,  gives 
an  interesting  description  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and 
her  Court.  He  had  the  privilege  of  watching  the 
Queen  as  she  proceeded  to  chapel. 

"  First,"  he  writes,  "  went  gentlemen,  Barons, 
Earls  and  Knights  of  the  Garter,  all  richly  dressed 
and  bare-headed,  next  came  the  Chancellor,  bearing 
the  seals  in  a  red  silk  purse,  between  two:  one  of 
which  carried  the  royal  sceptre,  the  other  the 
Sword  of  State,  in  a  red  scabbard,  studded  with 
golden  fleurs-de-lis,  the  point  upwards :  next  came 
the  Queen,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  her  age,  as  we 
were  told,  very  majestic,  her  face  oblong,  fair,  but 
wrinkled,  her  eyes  small,  yet  black  and  pleasant, 
her  nose  a  little  hooked,  her  lips  narrow,  and  her 
teeth  black  (a  defect  the  English  seem  subject 
to  from  their  too  great  use  of  sugar),  she  had  in 
her  ears  two  pearls  with  very  rich  drops,  she  wore 
false  hair,  and  that  red,  upon  her  head  she  had 

a  small  crown Her  bosom  was  uncovered  as 

all  English  ladies  have  it  till  they  marry,  she  had 


246  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

on  a  necklace  of  exceeding  fine  jewels,  her  hands 
were  small,  her  fingers  long.  Her  stature  neither 
tall  nor  low;  her  air  was  stately,  and  her  manner 
of  speaking  mild  and  obliging.  That  day  she  was 
dressed  in  white  silk,  bordered  with  pearls  of  the 
size  of  beans,  and  over  it  a  mantle  of  black  silk, 
shot  with  silver  threads,  her  train  was  very  long, 
the  end  of  it  borne  by  a  Marchioness,  and  instead 
of  a  chain,  she  had  an  oblong  collar  of  gold  and 
jewels.  .  .  .  She  spoke  very  graciously,  first  to 
one  and  then  to  another,  whether  foreign  ministers 
or  those  who  attended  her  for  different  reasons,  in 
English,  French,  and  Italian,  for,  besides  being 
well-skilled  in  Greek,  Latin,  and  the  languages  I 
have  mentioned,  she  is  mistress  of  Spanish,  Scotch, 
and  Dutch.  Whoever  speaks  to  her  it  is  kneeling, 
now  and  then  she  raises  some  with  her  hand.  .  .  . 
A  Bohemian  Baron  had  letters  to  present  to  her; 
and  she,  after  pulling  off  her  glove,  gave  him  her 
right  hand  to  kiss,  sparkling  with  rings  and  jewels, 
a  mark  of  particular  favour.  Wherever  she  turned 
her  face,  as  she  was  going  along,  everybody  fell  on 
their  knees.  The  ladies  of  the  Court  followed 
next  to  her.  .  .  .  she  was  guarded  on  each  side 
by  Gentlemen  Pensioners,  fifty  in  number,  with  gilt 
battle-axes.  In  the  ante-chapel,  next  the  hall 
where  we  were,  petitions  were  presented  to  her,  and 
she  received  them  most  graciously,  which  occasioned 
acclamations  of  *  Long  live  Queen  Elizabeth ! ' 
She  answered  it  with,  '  I  thank  you,  my  good  peo- 
ple.' " 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  247 

Hentzner  then  goes  on  to  describe  the  ceremony 
at  Her  Majesty's  dinner  table.  Those  who 
brought  in  the  dishes  kneeled  three  times  before 
placing  them  on  the  table. 

"  At  last  came  an  unmarried  lady  and  along  with 
her  a  married  one,  bearing  a  tasting  knife,  who, 
when  she  had  prostrated  herself  three  times  in 
most  graceful  manner,  approached  the  table  and 
rubbed  the  plate  with  as  much  awe  as  if  the  Queen 
had  been  present." 

After  the  dishes  had  been  brought  in  by  Yeo- 
men of  the  Guard,  bare-headed  and  clad  in  scarlet, 
they  were  received  by  a  gentleman,  and  placed  on 
the  table  "  while  the  lady-taster  gave  to  each  of 
the  Guard  a  mouthful  to  eat  of  the  particular  dish 
he  had  brought  for  fear  of  any  poison." 

During  all  this  formality  "  twelve  trumpets  and 
two  kettle-drums  made  the  hall  ring  for  half  an 
hour  together.  At  the  end  of  this  ceremonial  a 
number  of  unmarried  ladies'  appeared  who,  with 
particular  solemnity,  lifted  the  meat  off  the  table 
and  conveyed  it  into  the  Queen's  inner  and  more 
private  chamber  where,  after  she  had  chosen  for 
herself,  the  rest  goes  to  the  ladies  of  the  Court. 
The  Queen  dines  and  sups  alone,  with  very  few  at- 
tendants, and  it  is  very  seldom  that  anybody,  for- 
eigner or  native,  is  admitted  at  that  time,  and  then 
only  at  the  intercession  of  somebody  in  power." 

Sir  John  Harington,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Robert 
Markham,  written  three  years  after  the  death  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  says  of  his  Royal  godmother: 


248  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

"  Her  mind  was  ofttime  like  the  gentle  air  that 
cometh  from  the  westerly  point  in  a  summer's 
morn ;  'twas  sweet  and  refreshing  to  all  around 
her.  Her  speech  did  win  all  affections,  and  her 
subjects  did  try  to  show  all  love  to  her  commands; 
for  she  would  say  '  her  state  did  require  her  to' 
command  what  she  knew  her  people  would  willingly 
do  from  their  own  love  to  her.'  Herein  did  she 
show  her  wisdom  fully ;  for  who  did  choose  to  lose 
her  confidence  or  who  would  withhold  a  show  of 
love  and  obedience  when  their  Sovereign  said  it 
was  their  own  choice  and  not  her  compulsion  ?  .  .  . 
Again  she  could  put  forth  such  alterations  when 
obedience  was1  lacking,  as  left  no  doubtings  whose 
daughter  she  was.  .  .  .  Her  Highness  was  wont  to 
soothe  her  ruffled  temper  with  reading  every  morn- 
ing, when  she  had  been  stirred  to  passion  at  Coun- 
cil, or  other  matters  had  overthrown  her  gracious 
disposition;  she  did  much  admire  Seneca's  whole- 
some advisings',  when  the  soul's  quiet  was  flown 
away,  and  I  saw  much  of  her  translations  thereof. 
"  On  the  morrow  every  one  did  come  forth  in  her 
presence  and  discourse  at  large,  and,  if  any  had 
dissembled  with  her,  or  stood  not  well  to  her  ad- 
visings before,  she  did  not  let  it  go  unheeded,  and 
sometimes  not  unpunished.  Sir  Christopher  Hat- 
ton  was'  wont  to  say  '  The  Queen  did  fish  for  men's 
souls,  and  had  so  sweet  a  bait  that  no  one  could 
escape  her  net-work.'  In  truth,  I  am  sure  her 
speech  was  such  as  none  could  refuse  to  take  de- 
light in  when  forwardness  did  not  stand  in  the  way. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  249 

I  have  seen  her  smile,  soothe  with  great  semblance 
of  good  liking  to  all  around,  cause  every  one  to 
open  his1  most  inward  thought  to  her,  when,  on  a 
sudden,  she  would  ponder  in  private  on  what  had 
passed,  write  down  all  their  opinions,  draw  them 
out  as  occasion  required,  and  sometimes  disprove 
to  their  faces  what  had  been  delivered  a  month  be- 
fore. Hence,  she  knew  every  one's  part  and  by 
this  fishing,  as  Hatton  said,  she  caught  many  poor 
fish,  who  little  dreamed  what  snare  was  laid  for 
them.  .  .  .  We  did  all  love  her,  for  she  said  she 
loved  us,  and  much  wisdom  she  showed  in  this 
matter.  She  did  well  temper  herself  towards  all 
at  home.  .  .  .  As  I  did  bear  so  much  love  toward 
Her  Majesty,  I  know  not  well  how  to  stop  my  tales 
of  her  virtues  and  sometimes  her  faults,  for  *  nemo 
nascitur  sine,'  saith  the  poet  —  no  one  is  born 
without  faults ;  but  even  her  errors  did  seem  great 
marks  of  surprising  endowments.  When  she  did 
smile,  it  was  a  pure  sunshine  that  every  one  did 
choose  to  bask  in  if  they  could,  but  anon,  came  a 
storm  from  a  sudden  gathering  of  clouds,  and  the 
thunder  fell  in  wondrous  manner  on  all  alike.  I 
never  did  find  greater  show  of  understanding  and 
learning  than  she  was  blest  with." 


XVIII 
THE  FALL  OF  ESSEX 

Robert  Devereux,  Earl  of  Essex,  whose  rash  dis- 
obedience and  base  ingratitude  embittered  the  last 
years  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  life,  was  the  son  of  that 
Dowager  Countess  of  Essex,  who  married  the  Earl 
of  Leicester.  Young  Essex  was  born  in  1567,  and, 
at  an  early  age,  was  attracted  to  the  Court,  where 
his  handsome  person  and  courtly  manners,  when 
he  chose  to  have  them  so,  drew  upon  him  the  favour 
of  the  Queen,  who  lavished  on  him  the  affection  of 
a  fond  mother  for  a  spoiled  child.  For,  like  a 
spoiled  child,  he  pleaded  and  sulked  when  his  every 
wish  was  not  immediately  gratified.  He  repaid 
the  Queen's  regard  for  him  by  such  disobedience 
and  insolence  as  no  one  else  would  have  ventured 
to  address  to  their  imperious  Sovereign.  He  fre- 
quently made  secret  and  unauthorized  departures 
from  Court,  and  his  favourite  method  of  restoring 
himself  to  the  Queen's  favour  after  one  of  these 
stolen  trips,  or  after  a  bitter  disagreement  with 
his  Royal  Mistress,  was  to  feign  illness  and  take  to 
his  bed.  Elizabeth,  who  always  showed  great  sym- 
pathy with  all  the  ailments  of  her  courtiers  and 
ministers  of  State,  was  often  imposed  upon  in  this 

fashion. 

250 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  251 

At  the  time  of  one  of  Essex's  unauthorized  mili- 
tary expeditions,  Queen  Elizabeth,  with  her  own 
hand,  wrote  him  a  letter  which  was  a  strange  mix- 
ture of  displeasure  and  affection.  No  one  but  the 
presumptuous  young  Earl  could  have  hoped  to 
escape  severe  punishment  for  his  offense,  for  he 
had  fled  from  the  Court  without  even  informing  the 
Queen  of  his  intentions  to  do  military  service  in 
France ;  much  less  did  he  wait  for  her  permission, 
but  abandoning  to  the  four  winds1  his  important 
duties  as  Her  Majesty's  Master  of  the  Horse,  lit- 
erally ran  away,  like  a  naughty  school  boy,  to 
pamper  to  his  taste  for  martial  glory. 

The  letter  from  Queen  Elizabeth  is  as  follows :  — 

Essex: 

Your  sudden  and  undutiful  departure  from  our 
presence  and  your  place  of  attendance,  you  may  easily 
conceive  how  offensive  it  is,  and  ought  to  be,  unto  us. 
Our  great  favours  bestowed  upon  you  without  deserts 
hath  drawn  you  thus  to  neglect  and  forget  your  duty; 
for  other  construction  we  cannot  make  of  these  your 
strange  actions.  Not  meaning  therefore  to  tolerate 
this  your  disordered  part,  we  gave  directions  to  some 
of  our  Privy  Council  to  let  you  know  our  express 
pleasure  for  your  immediate  repair  hither,  which  yoj 
have  not  performed  as  your  duty  doth  bind  you, 
creasing  thereby  greatly  your  former  offence  and 
dutiful  behaviour  in  departing  in  such  sort  without 
our  privity,,  having  so  special  office  of  attendance  and 
charge  near  our  person.  We  do  therefore  charge  and 
command  you  forthwith  upon  receipt  of  these  our 
letters,  all  excuses  and  delays  set  apart,  to  make  your 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

present  and  immediate  repair  unto  us,  to  understand 
our  further  pleasure.  Whereof  see  you  fail  not,  as 
you  will  be  loth  to  incur  our  indignation  and  will  an- 
swer for  the  contrary  at  your  uttermost  peril. 

The  15th  of  April,  1589. 

Even  the  wilful  Essex  dared  not  disobey  these 
strict  commands,  but  set  sail  for  England  in  all 
haste.  The  primary  cause  of  the  Queen's  peremp- 
tory letter  to  the  Earl  was  the  report  she  had  heard 
of  the  reckless  manner  in  which  he  exposed  himself 
in  battle.  She  often  remarked,  "  We  shall  have 
this  young  fellow  knocked  on  the  head  as  foolish 
Sidney  was,  by  his  own  forwardness,"  and  her 
anxiety  did  not  cease  until  she  heard  that  the  ob- 
ject of  her  solicitude  was  actually  on  the  way  home. 
To  his  great  astonishment  she  received  him  gra- 
ciously, being  pleased  no  doubt,  with  his  unex- 
pected and  certainly  unusual  obedience.  For  a 
week  Her  Majesty  entertained  him  at  Court  with 
feasting  and  merriment  and  then,  to  satisfy  his 
war-like  aspirations,  gave  him  leave  to  return  to 
his  military  command. 

Essex's   secret  marriage  to  the   widow   of   the 

€valrous  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  threw  Queen  Eliza- 
h  into  a  transport  of  rage.  To  mollify  his 
Sovereign's  anger,  the  newly  made  husband  seemed 
quite  content  that  his  wife  should  live  in  retirement 
at  her  mother's  hous'e,  while  he  angled  for  high 
positions  of  command  and  was  insolent  to  his 
Queen,  and  impatient  of  all  restraint  which  delayed 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  253 

him  in  his  ambitious  designs  of  attaining  the  high- 
est place  in  the  Realm  by  long  leaps.  Although 
he  was  distinguished  for  reckless  valour  in  expe- 
ditions against  the  Spaniards  and  as  Commander  of 
the  English  army  in  France,  he  showed  but  little 
real  knowledge  of  military  tactics.  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's regard  for  him  soon  waned  on  account  of 
his  arrogant  and  rebellious  behaviour  toward  her, 
and  his  violent  jealousy  whenever  she  bestowed  a 
favour  upon  others  more  deserving  than  he.  When 
Her  Majesty  heard  that  Essex  had  actually  fought 
a  duel  with  Sir  Charles  Blount  because  she  had 
granted  him  some  boon,  she  cried,  angrily,  "  By 
God's  death,  it  were  fitting  some  one  should  take 
him  down  and  teach  him  better  manners  or  there 
were  no  rule  with  him." 

His  greatest  enemy  at  Court  was  the  new  Secre- 
tary of  State,  the  second  son  of  Lord  Burleigh, 
Sir  Robert  Cecil.  He  possessed  talents  similar, 
though  inferior,  to  his  father's,  and,  in  spite  of 
his  ugly  and  deformed  appearance,  had  succeeded, 
by  dint  of  courtier-like  tact  and  untiring  perse- 
verance, in  recommending  himself  to  the  good 
graces  of  his  dainty  Sovereign,  who  had  such  an 
antipathy  to  ugly  men.  Cecil  took  pains  to  fo- 
ment, as  far  as1  lay  in  his  power,  every  quarrel 
between  the  Queen  and  Essex. 

The  climax  of  Essex's  rude  insolence  to  the 
Queen's  person  culminated  in  an  act  that  ap- 
proached dangerously  near  high  treason,  and  would 
probably  have  been  so  regarded  by  a  less  indulgent 


254  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Sovereign.  A  heated  debate  was  held  one  day  in 
the  Royal  cabinet  over  the  selection  of  a  suitable 
man  to  fill  the  difficult  post  of  Lord  Deputy  to 
Ireland.  No  one  was  present  but  Her  Majesty,  the 
Lord  Admiral,  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  the  Clerk  of  the 
Seal,  and  Essex.  The  Queen  named  Sir  William 
Knollys,  a  relative  of  hers  and  uncle  to  Essex,  as 
the  most  suitable  person.  But  Essex,  knowing 
that  this  appointment  would  be  pleasing  to  both 
the  Cecils,  vehemently  and  indiscreetly  opposed  it, 
insisting  that  Sir  George  Carew  be  sent  instead. 
As  Essex  was  jealous  of  Carew  and  had  long 
wished  to  rid  the  Court  of  him,  his  now  warm  ad- 
vocacy of  him,  together  with  the  domineering  fash- 
ion in  which  he  presumed  to  override  the  Queen's 
opinion,  called  down  upon  him  a  sarcastic  reproof 
from  Her  Majesty.  Upon  this,  Essex,  completely 
forgetting  the  respect  due  to  his  Sovereign,  turned 
his  back  upon  her  with  a  contemptuous  look. 
Sj  Queen  Elizabeth,  losing  all  self-control  at  his 
unbounded  insolence,  gave  him  a  sound  box  on  the 
ear,  and  told  him  "  to  go  and  be  hanged."  In- 
stantly the  petulant  Earl  laid  his  hand  on  his 
sword  with  a  threatening  gesture,  and,  when  the 
Lord  Admiral  stepped  between  him  and  the  Queen 
he  had  insulted,  he  swore  a  great  oath  that 
he  would  not  have  taken  that  blow  from  Henry 
VIII,  and,  muttering  something  about  "  a  King 
in  petticoats,"  rushed  from  the  Court  in  a  pas- 
sion. 

The  Lord  Chancellor  wrote  to  him  and  advised 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  255 

him  to  appeal  to  the  mercy  of  the  Queen  whom  he 
had  so  offended.  One  might  well  think  that  Essex's 
own  heart  would  have  shown  him  the  reverence 
due  to  a  Sovereign  and  a  woman  of  the  advanced 
age  of  sixty-five,  to  which  Queen  Elizabeth  had 
then  attained.  But  neither  did  any  sense  of  his 
own  wrong-doing  nor  the  Chancellor's  letter  elicit 
from  the  Earl  anything  but  a  rude  and  defiant  re- 
ply. He  stated  that  "  his  whole  body  was  injured 
by  that  one  blow,  and  having  received  that  indig- 
nity, it  were  impiety  in  him  to  serve  longer."  He 
was  too  blinded  by  passion  to  see  that  the  "  im- 
piety "  consisted  in  the  unpardonable  insult  he 
had  offered  to  his  forgiving  Queen  and  benefac- 
tress. 

At  length,  however,  he  appeared  more  submis- 
sive, and,  by  a  continued  show  of  contrition,  ob- 
tained pardon  from  his  offended  Queen,  but  he 
never  again  regained  her  favour,  for  she  saw  now 
the  dangerous  nature  of  the  ingrate  she  had  be- 
stowed her  regard  upon,  and  he  a  kinsman  as  well 
as  protege,  being  the  great-grandson  of  her  aunt. 
Mary  Boleyn. 

Essex  finally  in  1599  obtained  the  long  cov- 
eted post  of  Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland.  His  ap- 
pointment was  warmly  advocated  by  his  bitter  en- 
emy, Sir  Robert  Cecil,  who,  doubtless,  counted  on 
the  strong  probability  of  his  destroying  himself 
there  by  his  rash  perversity  and  exaggerated  ego- 
tism, exactly  as  he  did  do.  The  Queen  gave  her 
consent  to  the  appointment  of  Essex,  after  long 


256  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

delay,  and  with  visible  reluctance.  She  realized 
the  dangers  attendant  upon  placing  the  possession 
of  an  army  in  the  hands  of  one  whose  loyalty  she 
had  every  reason  to  doubt  and  one  who  had  also 
contrived  to  become  a  popular  favourite.  So  she 
sent  her  godson,  Harington,  to  keep  watch  upon 
his  actions1. 

Mr.  Robert  Markham,  a  kinsman  of  Harington, 
wrote  to  him  to  beware  of  Essex,  saying,  "  he  go- 
eth  not  forth  to  serve  the  Queen's  Realm,  but  to 
humour  his  own  revenge." 

Essex,  in  spite  of  his  unlimited  self-confidence, 
made  a  bad  muddle  of  affairs  in  Ireland,  and,  with 
his  usual  reckless  presumption,  disobeyed  the 
Queen's  express  commands.  He  further  increased 
her  ire  by  knighting  some  of  his  followers,  among 
them  John  Harington,  who,  on  account  of  this 
and  his  increasing  friendliness  for  Essex,  now  came 
in  for  a  large  share  of  royal  displeasure.  The 
privilege  of  making  knights  Queen  Elizabeth  wished 
to  be  exercised  by  herself,  and  not  by  her  arrogant 
subject. 

When  she  censured  him  for  his  mismangement, 
he  impertinently  reproached  her  for  showing  fa- 
vour to  Cecil,  "  that  knave  Raleigh,"  and  that 
"  sycophant  Cobham,"  and  began  to  mutter  threats 
of  bringing  troops  to  England  to  remove  his  ene- 
mies there.  When  rumours  of  this  treasonable  in- 
tent reached  the  sharp  ears  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  she 
wrote  him  instantly  in  her  usual  vigourous  style. 
"  We  do  charge  you,"  she  said,  "  as  you  tender  our 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  257 

displeasure,  that  you  adventure  not  to  come  out  of 
that  Kingdom." 

He  next  sent  word  that  he  needed  reinforcements 
in  order  to  invade  Ulster.  But,  when  he  had  re- 
ceived them,  instead  of  fighting,  he  patched  up  an 
unauthorized  truce  with  the  rebel,  Tyrone,  and 
then,  rashly  quitting  his  command,  fled  to  England. 
He  reached  London  September  £8th,  after  an  ab- 
sence of  about  five  months,  and  at  once  hastened 
to  Nonsuch,  where  Queen  Elizabeth  was  holding  her 
Court. 

Essex  arrived  at  the  Court  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  In  his  frantic  haste  to  see  the  Queen 
and  plead  his  cause  in  person  before  the  news  of 
his  daring  return  could  reach  her  ears,  he  burst 
into  her  bedchamber,  all  muddy  and  travel-stained 
as  he  was,  and  falling  on  his  knees  before  her,  cov- 
ered her  hands  with  kisses'.  Queen  Elizabeth,  who 
had  just  arisen,  and  was  standing  among  her  tire- 
women, with  her  grey  hair  falling  about  her  shoul- 
ders, for  she  had  not  had  time  to  make  choice  of  one 
of  her  numerous  wigs  of  various  colours,  which  she 
wore  in  later  life,  was  so  utterly  astounded  by 
the  Earl's1  unexpected  appearance  and  his  unheard 
of  presumption,  that  she  did  not  fly  into  such  a 
passion  as  might  have  been  expected. 

An  hour  or  two  later  she  gave  him  another  audi- 
ence, and  listened  to  his  excuses,  but  in  the  even- 
ing, after  the  matter  had  been  referred  to  the 
Council,  Essex  was  placed  under  arrest,  and  never 
saw  his  Queen  again. 


258  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Harington  came  in  for  a  good  share  of  Queen 
Elizabeth's*  anger  when  he  sought  an  audience  of 
her  after  Eessex's  return.  He  says,  "  She  chafed 
much,  walked  fastly  to  and  fro,  looked  with  dis- 
composure in  her  visage,  and,  I  remember,  she 
catched  my  girdle  when  I  kneeled  to  her,  and  swore, 
'  By  God's  Son,  I  am  no  Queen,  that  man  is  above 
me.  Who  gave  him  command  to  come  here  so 
soon?  I  did  send  him  on  other  business.'  It  was 
long  before  more  gracious  discourse  did  fall  to  my 
hearing,  but  I  was  then  bid  '  Go  home ! '  I  did 
not  stay  to  be  bidden  twice.  If  all  the  Irish  rebels 
had  been  at  my  heels,  I  should  not  have  had  better 
speed,  for  I  did  now  flee  from  one  whom  I  both 
loved  and  feared  too." 

Harington  writes  to  a  friend  about  this  time: 
"  Every  man  wondered  to  see  me  at  liberty,  though 
in  conscience  there  was'  neither  rhyme  nor  reason 
to  punish  me  for  going  to  see  Tyrone  (he  had  ac- 
companied Essex  at  the  making  of  the  truce,  and 
had  bestowed  a  copy  of  his  '  Ariosto  '  on  one  of 
the  young  rebels),  yet  if  my  rhyme  had  not  been 
better  liked  of  than  my  reason  (I  mean  when  I  gave 
the  young  Baron  of  Dungannon  an  'Ariosto')  I 
think  I  had  been  by  the  heels  for  it.  But  I  had 
the  good  fortune  that  after  four  or  five  days,  the 
Queen  had  talked  of  me,  though  very  briefly.  At 
last,  she  gave  me  a  full  and  gracious  audience  in 
the  withdrawing  room  at  Whitehall,  where  herself 
being  accuser,  judge,  and  witness,  I  was  cleared 
and  graciously  dismissed.  What  should  I  say! 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  259 

I  seemed  to  myself  like  St.  Paul  rapt  up  in  the 
third  Heaven  where  he  heard  words  not  to  be  ut- 
tered by  men.  .  .  .  Until  I  come  to  Heaven,  I 
shall  never  come  to  a  statelier  judge  again  nor  one 
that  can  temper  majesty,  wisdom,  learning,  choler, 
favour,  better  than  Her  Highness  did  at  that 
time." 

Essex,  according  to  his  custom,  promptly  took 
to  his  bed  at  the  Queen's  continued  displeasure; 
for  once  his  illness  was  not  feigned.  But  Her 
Majesty  had  been  tricked  in  this  fashion  so  often 
that  she  refused  to  believe  in  the  reality  of  his 
sickness,  until  the  eight  physicians  he  had  in  at- 
tendance announced  that  he  was  near  death.  Then 
Queen  Elizabeth  showed  him  a  little  pity;  she 
allowed  some  of  his  friends  to  visit  him,  and  gave 
him  the  liberty  of  the  garden.  She  next  sent  him 
her  own  physician  with  some  broth  and  a  message 
of  comfort,  but  she  was  soon  persuaded  by  her 
ministers1  that  this  illness  was,  after  all,  a  feint, 
and  abruptly  ceased  her  kind  inquiries  after  his 
health. 

After  a  delay  of  nine  months,  Essex  recovered 
from  his  sickness,  and  was  tried  before  a  special 
commission.  The  charges  were :  "  His  contemp- 
tuous disobedience  of  Her  Majesty's  letters,  and 
his  will  in  returning;  his  presumptuous  letters 
written  from  time  to  time;  his  proceedings  in  Ire- 
land contrary  to  the  points  resolved  upon  in  Eng- 
land before  he  went;  his  rash  manner  of  coming 
away  from  Ireland;  his  overbold  going  the  day 


260  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

before  to  Her  Majesty's  bedchamber ;  and  his  mak- 
ing so  many  idle  knights." 

The  Earl  gave  an  eloquent  defense,  kneeling, 
and  remained  in  this  abject  posture  during  most 
of  the  proceedings,  which  lasted  from  nine  in  the 
morning  till  eight  at  night.  The  Commission 
found  him  guilty  on  all  the  charges,  and  ordered 
him  to  cease  his  duties  as  Privy  Councillor,  Earl 
Marshal,  and  Master  of  Ordnance,  to  return  at 
once  to  his  house,  and  there  to  remain  a  prisoner  at 
the  Queen's  pleasure. 

He  now  began  to  write  very  submissive  letters 
to  Her  Majesty  and  begged  her  to  "  let  her  servant 
depart  in  peace  "  to  his  country  seat,  asking  per- 
mission only  to  kiss  her  hand  before  leaving  Court 
forever.  Queen  Elizabeth  rejoiced  at  his  apparent 
humility  and  set  him  at  full  liberty,  but  warned 
him  to  "  make  himself  and  his  own  discretion  his1 
keeper  and  not  to  approach  the  Court  or  her  per- 
son." 

That  summer  the  Queen,  to  divert  her  mind  from 
these  unpleasant  occurrences,  attended  the  mar- 
riage of  one  of  her  maids  of  honour,  the  daughter 
of  Lady  Russell,  to  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Worces- 
ter. Her  Majesty  was  carried  from  the  water 
side  in  a  lectica  or  semi-litter,  borne  by  six  Knights. 
After  the  wedding  repast,  she  went  to  Lord  Cob- 
ham's  to  supper. 

Here  there  was  a  mask  given  by  eight  ladies ; 
after  they  had  finished  their  part,  they  chose  eight 
more  ladies  to  complete  the  dance.  Mrs.  Fitton, 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  261 

the  premiere  danseuse,  came  up  and  "  wooed  "  the 
Queen  to  dance. 

"Who  art  thou?  "  asked  the  Queen.  "Affec- 
tion," replied  Mrs.  Fitton.  "Affection,"  said 
Queen  Elizabeth,  significantly,  "  is  false ; "  she 
arose,  however,  and  finished  out  the  dance. 

Rowland  Whyte  tells  us  in  his  "  gossipy  "  letters 
to  Sir  Robert  Sidney  that  the  Queen  to  further 
divert  her  thoughts  "  This  day  appoints  to  see  a 
Frenchman  do  feats  upon  a  cord  in  the  conduit 
court.  To-morrow  she  hath  commanded  the  bears, 
the  bull,  and  the  ape  to  be  baited  in  the  tilt-yard ; 
upon  Wednesday  she  will  have  solemn  dancing." 

About  this  time,  Sir  Robert  Sidney  writes  to 
Harington :  "  I  do  see  the  Queen  often.  She 
doth  wax  weak  since  the  late  troubles,  and  Bur- 
leigh's  death  doth  often  draw  tears  down  her 
goodly  cheeks ;  she  walketh  out  but  little,  meditates 
much  alone,  and  sometimes  writes  in  private  to  her 
friends."  He  then  goes  on  to  describe  in  detail  a 
visit  the  Queen  paid  to  his  house,  and  how  the  in- 
firmities of  old  age  were  advancing  upon  the  great 
Elizabeth,  in  spite  of  her  Spartan-like  attempts  to 
hide  the  fact.  Sidney's  son  made  an  eloquent 
speech  of  welcome  to  the  Royal  guest,  and  the 
women  of  the  household  gave  a  dancing  exhibition 
before  her,  while  cornets  played  loudly  in  the  gal- 
lery. 

"  She  did  vouchsafe  to  eat  two  morsels  of  rich 
comfit  cakes  and  drank  a  small  cordial  from  a  gold 
cup,"  continues  Sidney.  "  She  had  a  marvellous 


262  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

suit  of  velvet  borne  by  four  of  her  first  women  at- 
tendants in  rich  apparel ;  two  ushers  did  go  before, 
and,  at  going  up  stairs,  she  called  for  a  staff,  and 
was  much  wearied  in  walking  about  the  house  and 
said  she  wished  to  come  another  day.  Six  drums 
and  six  trumpets  waited  in  the  court  and  sounded 
at  her  approach  and  departure." 

Queen  Elizabeth  highly  praised  the  splendid  at- 
tire of  her  hosts  and  smiled  graciously  at  the  ladies, 
who,  after  their  dance,  came  up  to  the  platform  on 
which  she  sat,  to  make  their  obeisance.  After  the 
day's  entertainment  was  over,  "  the  Queen  went  and 
tasted  a  small  beverage  that  was  set  out  in  divers 
rooms  where  she  might  pass ;  and  then,  in  much  the 
same  order,  was  attended  to  her  Palace,  the  cornets 
and  trumpets  sounding  through  the  streets." 

The  Queen  appointed  Lord  Mount joye  to  the 
vacant  post  of  Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland.  When 
she  mentioned  this  appointment  to  Francis  Bacon, 
whose  patron  Essex  had  been,  he  said,  "  Surely, 
Madam,  you  cannot  make  a  better  choice,  unless 
you  send  over  my  Lord  Essex." 

Queen  Elizabeth's  vehement  response  showed 
that  the  Earl  still  lay  under  the  weight  of  her 
strong  displeasure.  "  Essex ! "  she  exclaimed, 
"  when  I  send  Essex  back  into  Ireland,  I  will  marry 
you.  Claim  it  of  me." 

Essex,  before  going  to  his  country  estate,  said 
to  Lord  Henry  Howard,  with  the  ostensible  pur- 
pose of  having  his  words  repeated  to  the  Queen, 
that  he  kissed  her  royal  hand  and  that  rod  which 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  263 

had  corrected  him,  not  ruined  him;  but  he  could 
never  be  possessed  of  his  wonted  joy  again,  till  he 
beheld  those  benign  looks  of  hers  which  had  been 
his  star  to  direct  and  guide  him.  He  added  that  he 
was  now  determined  to  repent  him  of  his  fault,  and 
to  say  with  Nebuchadnezzar,  "  Let  my  dwelling  be 
with  the  beasts  of  the  field  to  eat  grass  as  an  ox, 
and  to  be  wet  with  the  dew  of  Heaven  till  it  shall 
please  the  Queen  to  restore  my  understanding  unto 
me." 

When  this  was  reported  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  she 
said :  "  Would  to  God  his  deeds  would  be  answer- 
able to  his  words.  He  hath  a  long  time  tried  my 
patience  and  I  must  have  some  time  to  make  proof 
of  his  humility.  My  father  would  never  have  en- 
dured such  perverseness.  But  I  will  not  look  be- 
hind me,  lest  with  Lot's  wife,  I  be  turned  into  a 
pillar  of  salt.  '  All  is  not  gold  that  glittereth.' 
If  this  could  be  brought  to  pass  by  the  furnace,  I 
should  be  more  favourable  to  the  profession  of 
alchemy." 

Essex,  however,  was  led  to  appear  so  humble  and 
submissive  from  mercenary  motives  wholly.  When 
he  had  been  enjoying  the  former  favour  of  the 
Queen,  she  had  granted  him  the  monopoly  of  a 
farm  of  sweet  wines,  which  brought  him  in  the 
enormous  sum  of  £50,000  a  year.  The  term  for 
which  he  held  this  lucrative  farm  was  soon  to  ex- 
pire, and  he  was  directing  all  his  energies  to  gain 
a  renewal  of  it,  for  he  was  deeply  involved  in  debt. 

When  Queen  Elizabeth  found  out  the  cause  of 


264  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

this  submissive  behaviour,  her  indignation  against 
Essex  increased,  and  she  not  only  rejected  his  suit, 
but  sent  back  the  taunting  reply  that  "  an  ungov- 
ernable beast  must  be  stinted  of  his  provender  to 
bring  him  under  management." 

Essex,  rendered  desperate  by  the  rejection  of 
his  suit,  now  showed  forth  his  resentment  against 
the  Queen  in  treasonable  and  insulting  speeches, 
while  his  house  became  the  gathering-place  for  re- 
ligious and  social  malcontents  of  the  most  aban- 
doned sort.  Many  of  these  later  on  took  part  in 
the  Gunpowder  Plot.  To  serve  his  own  selfish  and 
malicious  aims,  Essex  was  willing  to  overthrow  a 
popular  Sovereign,  his  own  benefactress,  and  the 
idol  of  her  subjects,  and  the  excellent  government 
she  had  established,  founded  on  the  respect  and  ad- 
miration of  the  nation.  His  speeches  of  the  Queen 
were  such  that  Harington  writes :  "In  my  late 
discourse,  he  uttered  strange  words  bordering  on 
such  strange  designs  that  made  me  hasten  forth 
and  leave  his  presence.  His  speeches  of  the  Queen 
becometh  no  man  who  hath  mens  sana  in  corpore 
sana  —  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body.  The  Queen 
well  knoweth  how  to  humble  the  haughty  spirit,  the 
haughty  spirit  knoweth  not  how  to  yield,  and  the 
man's  soul  seemeth  tossed  to  and  fro  like  the  waves 
of  a  troubled  sea." 

Essex  carried  on  a  secret  correspondence  with 
the  Scotch  King,  urging  him  to  demand  the  recog- 
nition of  his  title  as  heir  to  the  English  Throne  by 
arms,  and  also  tried  to  persuade  the  new  Deputy 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  265 

of  Ireland  to  carry  his  army  to  Scotland  and  place 
it  at  the  disposal  of  King  James.  Although  these 
intrigues  were  not  then  known  to  the  government, 
it  was  noticed  that  swash-bucklers  and  desperadoes 
were  holding  meetings  at  Essex's  house  together 
with  some  suspected  Nobles  and  gentlemen;  that 
some  Puritan  clergymen  were  praying  for  his  cause, 
and  that  there  was  some  tumult  going  on  in  the 
city.  The  Council  then  ordered  him  to  appear  be- 
fore them.  Instead  of  obeying,  he  made  a  desper- 
ate attempt,  with  the  assistance  of  Lord  Southamp- 
ton, four  other  Nobles,  and  about  300  followers  to 
raise  the  citizens  of  London  to  rebel  against  the 
government  and  force  the  Queen  to  grant  his  de- 
mands. 

Harington  gives  a  vivid  sketch  of  the  uneasiness 
and  excitement  pervading  the  Court  at  this1  time 
of  suspense.  "  The  madcaps  are  all  in  riot,"  he 
writes,  "  and  much  evil  threatened.  In  good 
sooth,  I  fear  Her  Majesty  more  than  the  rebel 
Tyrone  and  wish  I  had  never  received  my  Lord 
of  Essex's  knighthood.  She  is  quite  disfavoured 
and  unattired,  and  these  troubles  waste  her  much. 
She  disregardeth  every  costly  cover  that  cometh  to 
the  table,  and  taketh  little  but  manchet  and  succory 
pot  age.  Every  new  message  from  the  city  doth 
disturb  her,  and  she  frowns  on  all  the  ladies.  I 
had  a  sharp  message  from  her  brought  by  my  Lord 
Buckhurst,  namely  thus, — '  Go  tell  that  witty  fel- 
low, my  godson,  to  get  home;  it  is  no  season  to 
fool  it  here.'  I  liked  this  as  little  as  she  doth  my 


266  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

knighthood.  .  .  .  The  many  evil  plots  and  designs 
have  overcome  all  Her  Highness'  sweet  temper. 
She  walks  much  in  her  Privy  Chamber,  and  stamps 
much  with  her  feet  at  ill  news,  and  thrusts  her  rusty 
sword  at  times  into  the  arras  in  great  rage.  I 
obtained  short  audience  at  my  first  coming  to 
Court  when  Her  Highness  told  me,  '  If  ill  counsel 
had  brought  me  so  far  from  home,  she  wished 
Heaven  might  mar  that  fortune  which  she  had 
mended.' '  Harington  adds  in  a  postscript  to  this 
interesting  letter  that  "  Her  Highness  hath  worn 
but  one  change  of  raiment  for  many  days,  and 
swears  much  at  those  that  cause  her  grief  in  such 
wise  to  the  no  small  discomfiture  of  all  about  her." 

On  Sunday  morning,  February  8th,  Essex  as- 
sembled his  little  band  of  misguided  followers  at 
his  house  and  proposed  to  march  them  to  Paul's 
Cross  in  Cheapside,  and  there  to  induce  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  the  throng  of  citizens,  who  attended 
church  services  at  that  place,  to  join  his  handful 
of  rebels'.  But  one  of  his  number  had  betrayed 
all  his  plans  to  Cecil.  The  Mayor  and  Aldermen 
were  consequently  ordered  to  keep  the  people  within 
their  houses  and  not  to  allow  them  to  hear  the 
preaching.  The  guards  at  the  Royal  Palace  were 
doubled  and  every  precaution  taken  to  repel  the 
expected  attack. 

At  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  Lord  Chancel- 
lor and  other  officials  forced  their  way  into  Essex 
House,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  Queen,  ordered  the 
Earl's  disorderly  partisans  to  lay  down  their  arms. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  267 

This  command  had  the  effect  of  a  call  to  action. 
Essex,  urged  on  by  the  turbulent  mob,  actually 
locked  up  the  Chancellor  and  his  companions  in 
his  house,  and  then  rushed  wildly  into  the  streets 
like  the  madman  that  he  was.  His  frantic  fol- 
lowers, some  brandishing  rapiers,  and  others  pis- 
tols, dashed  after  him,  shouting,  "  England  is  sold 
to  Spain  by  Cecil  and  Raleigh !  They  will  give  the 
Crown  to  the  Infanta!  Citizens  of  London,  arm 
for  England  and  the  Queen !  " 

No  one  rose  to  this  delusive  call,  and  Essex  con- 
tinued to  run  through  the  deserted  streets,  waving 
his  sword,  and  vainly  shouting,  "  For  the  Queen ! 
For  the  Queen !  "  The  citizens  of  London  were 
loyal  subjects,  and  he  was  not  even  able  to  obtain 
arms  and  ammunition  in  the  shops.  There  was1 
some  slight  skirmishing  on  Ludgate  Hill,  but,  after 
Essex  had  slain  a  man  with  his  own  hand,  and  been 
shot  through  the  hat,  his  followers  began  to  for- 
sake him.  He  had  already  been  proclaimed  a 
traitor  in  three  different  quarters  of  the  city  by  the 
Garter  King-at-Arms,  Thomas,  Lord  Burleigh,  and 
the  Earl  of  Cumberland.  Still  desperate  and  re- 
vengeful, Essex  forced  his  way  back  to  his  house. 
Queen  Elizabeth  was  at  dinner  when  she  was  told 
that  her  former  favourite  was  not  only  trying  to 
raise  the  city  to  rebellion,  but  had  actually  suc- 
ceeded. She,  however,  showed  no  fear  at  all,  al- 
though her  attendants  were  overwhelmed  with  ter- 
ror. "  She  was  never  more  amazed  than  she  would 
have  been  to  have  heard  of  a  fray  in  Fleet  street," 


268  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

writes  Cecil  later  in  a  letter  to  Sir  George  Carew. 
Her  Majesty  alone  of  all  those  at  Court  coolly 
proposed  going  to  oppose  the  rebels.  She  declared, 
and  probably  with  truth  that  "  not  one  of  them 
would  dare  to  meet  a  single  glance  of  her  eye. 
They  would  flee  at  the  very  notice  of  her  ap- 
proach." And  indeed  there  were  none,  men  of  the 
sword  though  they  might  be,  but  quailed  before 
"  the  lioness  of  England  "  when  she  was  roused  to 
wrath. 

When  Essex  reached  home  he  found  his  pris- 
oners liberated,  and  his  house  surrounded  by  the 
Queen's  forces.  At  about  ten  o'clock  that  night 
he  and  his  remaining  followers  surrendered  to  the 
besiegers.  The  next  day  they  were  taken  to  the 
Tower. 

On  the  19th  Essex  was  brought  to  trial,  and,  of 
course,  found  guilty  of  open  and  inexcusable  acts 
of  treason,  which  rendered  his  execution  a  State 
necessity.  Queen  Elizabeth  affixed  to  the  death 
warrant  her  firmly  written  and  beautifully  flour- 
ished autograph,  and  there  is  no  evidence  that  she 
ever  regretted  having  allowed  justice  to  take  its 
course.  (The  story  of  the  ring,  reported  to  have 
been  intercepted  by  the  Countess  of  Nottingham, 
has  been  utterly  disproved.)  Elizabeth  had  long 
before  warned  Essex  that  while  she  might  pardon 
much  disrespect  to  her  person,  he  must  not  touch 
her  sceptre  or  he  would  be  punished  by  the  laws  of 
England,  which  were  not  so  lenient  as  she  had  been. 
Only  three  of  the  Earl's  accomplices  were  sen- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  269 

tenced  to  capital  punishment.  The  five  Lords, 
who  were  not  very  powerful  or  very  dangerous,  en- 
joyed the  Queen's  usual  clemency.  But  on  the 
25th  of  February,  1600,  in  the  thirty-fourth  year 
of  his  age,  perished  the  headstrong  Earl  of  Essex, 
who  might  have  attained  to  something  worth  while 
if  he  had  turned  his  fiery  talents  to  the  faithful 
service  of  his  Queen,  instead  of  blindly  obeying  his 
own  mad  passions. 


XIX 

"THE   SETTING  OF  THE  WESTERN 
LUMINARY  " 

The  glorious  life  of  mighty  Elizabeth  was  now 
drawing  to  a  close.  She  had  lived  to  see  her  ene- 
mies' prostrate  at  her  feet,  and,  by  her  wisdom 
/  and  fortitude  had  raised  her  beloved  England  from 
the  position  of  a  weak  and  tottering  state  to  that 
of  a  united  and  potent  world  power.  She  was  the 
admiration  not  only  of  her  own  people,  but  even  of 
all  the  nations  of  Europe.  "  Her  very  enemies 
proclaimed  her  the  most  glorious  and  fortunate  of 
all  women  who  ever  wore  a  crown,"  writes  a  French 
historian. 

Yet,  in  the  last  months  of  her  life,  a  deep  melan- 
choly was  settling  over  her,  and,  in  160£  she  told 
de  Beaumont,  the  French  Ambassador,  that  she  was 
"  weary  of  life." 

This  brooding  melancholy  may  well  have  been 
a  symptom  of  that  distressing  complication  of  mal- 
adies of  which  she  sickened  and  died.  Then,  too, 
she,  who  had  hitherto  enjoyed  vigourous  health, 
thanks  to  her  "  exact  temperance  both  as  to  wine 
and  diet,  which  she  was  wont  to  say,  was1  the  no- 
blest part  of  physic  "  and  her  untiring  activity, 

270 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  271 

was  now  cut  off  by  her  increasing  infirmities  from 
many  of  her  former  enjoyments  and  accustomed 
pursuits.  She  had  seen  her  faithful  friends  and 
trusty  ministers  of  former  days  pass  one  by  one  to 
their  grave,  she  had  no  near  relatives,  and,  in  her 
old  age,  found  herself  surrounded  by  a  new  and 
younger  generation,  some  of  whom,  venal  wordlings 
as  they  were,  were  already  worshippers  of  the  rising 
sun  in  the  person  of  the  Scottish  King.  Then, 
too,  the  ingratitude  of  Essex  and  the  anxieties  of 
the  Irish  rebellion  prayed  upon  her  mind,  and  when, 
against  her  wish,  she  granted  life  to  the  rebel  Ty- 
rone, yielding  to  the  importunities  of  her  ministers 
who  represented  to  her  the  impossibility  of  con- 
tinuing the  struggle  against  the  rebels,  she  regarded 
this  as  a  bitter  disgrace  and  often  spoke  of  it  so. 
But  Tyrone  was  neither  so  powerful  nor  so  in- 
vincible an  enemy  as  had  been  supposed.  Instead, 
he  was  in  desperate  straits,  and,  not  waiting  to  re- 
ceive the  hard  conditions  imposed  by  the  English 
Queen,  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  Deputy 
and  surrendered  his  lands  and  life  to  the  Queen's 
mercy.  Unfortunately,  Queen  Elizabeth  never 
learned  of  this  final  submission,  for  the  news  of  it 
did  not  reach  London  until  four  days  after  her 
death. 

On  October  £7th,  1601,  the  Queen  summoned  her    . 
last    Parliament    to    meet    at    Westminster.     She 
opened  it  in  person  with  the  accustomed  pomp  and 
ceremony,   but   the   weight    of   the   parliamentary 
robes  was  such  that  her  weakened  body  was  unable 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

to  support  them,  and  she  was1  actually  falling  to 
the  ground  when  the  nearest  Nobleman  caught  and 
upheld  her  in  his  arms.  But  the  force  of  her  mind 
overcame  her  bodily  weakness,  and  she  went 
through  the  fatiguing  ceremonies  with  her  usual 
grace  and  dignity. 

This  was  only  the  thirteenth  Parliament  sum- 
moned in  her  long  reign,  for  the  functions  of  this 
body  were  simply  to  grant  money  when  the  ordi- 
nary Crown  revenues  were  insufficient,  and  to  make 
laws.  It  was  a  popular  measure  for  a  Sovereign 
to  do  without  Parliaments,  for  then  there  were  no 
additional  taxes.  The  country  was  governed 
wholly  by  the  Queen,  with  the  advice  of  her  min- 
isters, and  Parliament  had  purely  legislative  pow- 
ers. The  ruler  was  expected  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  government  out  of  the  Crown  rev- 
enues, which,  at  the  end  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  was 
about  £300,000  per  annum,*  and  a  subsidy  was  re- 
garded, not  as  a  necessity,  but  as  an  extraordinary 
mark  of  the  people's  good-will. 

Queen  Elizabeth,  by  her  good  management  and 
strict  economy,  not  only  paid  the  expenses  of 
government  out  of  the  ordinary  revenue,  but  even 
discharged  the  debts  of  the  preceding  reigns  and 
collected  a  small  reserve  fund.  But  the  expenses 
of  the  war  with  Spain  wasted  this  reserve,  and 
forced  her  to  ask  for  subsidies.  These  necessary 
requests  were  met  with  some  unreasonable  grum- 
blings from  Parliament,  but  when  the  Queen,  with 
*  Beesly's  Queen  Elizabeth. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  273 

her  wonted  good  sense,  explained  to  them,  though 
as  she  correctly  observed,  there  was  no  constitu- 
tional precedent  to  oblige  her  to  do  so,  how  a  large 
expenditure  had  been  necessary  for  the  safety  of 
the  country,  these  parliamentary  grumblers  were 
silenced.  As  the  Queen  was  a  single  woman,  man- 
aging the  expenses  of  her  household  with  the  same 
care  and  frugality  as  she  did  those  of  the  State, 
and  had  never  indulged  in  the  building  of  costly 
palaces,  her  private  disbursement  was  very  mod- 
erate. Her  only  extravagance  was  clothes  and 
jewelry,  but  in  the  last  years  of  her  reign,  she  sold 
many  of  her  jewels  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
State. 

This  last  Parliament  opened  with  a  heated  de- 
bate on  monopolies.  Things  had  come  to  such  a 
pass  that  the  holders  of  monopolies  used  their 
privileges  in  a  way  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of 
the  people.  Queen  Elizabeth  sent  a  gracious  mes- 
sage to  the  House  of  Commons  saying  that  she 
intended  to  redress  all  grievances  by  the  exercise 
of  her  royal  authority,  for  she  was  as  indignant  as 
Parliament  itself  at  those  abuses  of  which  she  had 
been  unaware. 

This  message  of  the  Queen  overwhelmed  the 
House  with  gratitude  and  admiration.  One  mem- 
ber said,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  that  if  a  sentence 
of  eternal  happiness  had  been  pronounced  upon 
him,  he  could  not  have  felt  more  joy  than  he  at 
present  experienced.  Another  remarked  that 
"  such  a  message  from  the  sacred  person  of  the 


274  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

Queen  was1  a  kind  of  gospel  or  glad  tidings,  and 
ought  to  be  written  in  the  tablets  of  their  hearts." 
The  House  voted  that  the  Speaker  with  a  deputa- 
tion of  140  members  should  ask  permission  to  wait 
upon  Her  Majesty  and  give  her  their  thanks  for 
her  gracious  and  extraordinary  concessions. 

When  the  Speaker  and  the  140  members  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  Queen,  they  all  fell  on  their  knees 
before  her,  and  remained  in  this  attitude  a  long 
time  until  she  desired  them  to  rise.  The  Speaker 
expressed  the  unbounded  gratitude  of  the  Commons 
in  eloquent  language,  declaring  that  "  the  attri- 
bute which  was  most  proper  to  God,  to  perform 
all  he  promiseth,  appertaineth  also  to  her ;  and  that 
she  was  all  truth,  all  constancy  and  all  goodness." 
In  conclusion  he  said,  "  Neither  do  we  present  our 
thanks  in  words  or  any  outward  sign,  which  can 
be  no  sufficient  retribution  for  so  great  goodness ; 
but  in  all  duty  and  thankfulness,  prostrate  at  your 
feet,  we  present  our  most  loyal  and  thankful  hearts, 
and  the  last  spirit  of  breath  in  our  nostrils,  to  be 
poured  out,  to  be  breathed  up  for,  your  safety." 

Queen  Elizabeth,  after  listening  graciously  to 
this  eulogy,  made  a  dignified  and  impressive  ad- 
dress in  reply  expressing  her  satisfaction  that  the 
"  harpies  and  horse-leeches,"  as  she  called  the 
holders  of  monopolies,  had  been  exposed  to  her. 

"  I  had  rather,"  she  said,  "  that  my  heart  and 
hand  should  perish  than  either  heart  or  hand  should 
allow  such  privileges  to  monopolists  as  may  be 
prejudicial  to  my  people.  The  splendour  of  regal 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  275 

majesty  has  not  so  blinded  mine  eyes  that  licen- 
tious power  should  prevail  with  me  more  than  jus- 
tice. The  glory  of  the  name  of  a  King  may  deceive 
those  Princes  that  know  not  how  to  rule,  as  gilded 
pills  may  deceive  a  sick  patient.  But  I  am  none 
of  those  Princes.  For  I  know  that  the  Common- 
wealth is  to  be  governed  for  the  good  and  advan- 
tage of  those  that  are  committed  to  me,  not  of 
myself,  to  whom  it  is  intrusted,  and  that  an  account 
is  one  day  to  be  given  to  another  judgement-seat. 
I  think  myself  most  happy  that,  by  God's  assist- 
ance, I  have  hitherto  so  prosperously  governed  the 
Commonwealth  in  all  respects,  and  that  I  have 
such  subjects  that  for  their  good  I  would  willingly 
lose  both  Kingdom  and  life." 

This  noble  speech,  expressive  of  her  tenderness 
for  her  people,  was  received  with  great  delight  by 
the  Commons.  They  granted  the  Queen  an  un- 
precedented supply  of  four  subsidies  and  eight-fif- 
teenths ;  and  that,  too,  before  there  was  time  to 
adjust  the  matter  of  monopolies'. 

In  the  beginning  of  1602,  Her  Majesty's  attend- 
ants noticed  that  she  was  rapidly  failing  in 
strength.  She  still  kept  up  riding,  hunting,  and 
dancing,  in  which  she  excelled.  She  strove  in 
every  way  to  conceal  her  increasing  ailments,  and, 
although  she  suffered  greatly  with  gout  in  her 
fingers'  and  hands,  she  was  never  heard  to  complain 
of  her  physical  sufferings,  but  went  on  planning 
progresses  and  festivities  with  all  the  delight  of 
earlier  years.  In  the  last  year  of  her  life  she 


276  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

went  a-maying  at  Mr.  Buckley's  and  made  several 
other  visits,  but  in  spite  of  her  attempts  to  keep 
up  her  wonted  gaiety,  she  grew  gloomy  and  de- 
pressed. 

In  a  letter  dated  March  15th,  1602,  William 
Camden,  the  historian,  wrote  to  Sir  Robert  Cotton : 
"  I  know  you  are  (as  we  all  have  been)  in  a  mel- 
ancholy pensive  cogitation.  This  avirvia  or  exces- 
sive sleepless  indisposition  of  Her  Majesty  is  now 
ceased,  which,  being  joined  with  an  inflammation 
from  the  breast  upward,  and  her  mind  altogether 
averted  from  physic  in  this,  her  climaterical  year, 
did  more  than  terrify  us  all.  .  .  .  This1  I  thought 
good  in  generality  to  impart  unto  you  that  you 
may  (as  we  do)  put  away  fear,  and  thank  God  for 
this  joyful  recovery  of  her  upon  whose  health  and 
safety  we  all  depend." 

In  December,  1602,  Harington  wrote  to  his 
wife :  "  Our  dear  Queen,  my  Royal  godmother, 
and  this  State's  natural  mother,  doth  now  bear 
show  of  human  infirmity,  too  fast  for  that  evil 
which  we  shall  get  by  her  death,  and  too  slow  for 
that  good  which  she  shall  get  by  her  releasement 
from  pains  and  misery. 

"  I  cannot  blot  from  my  memory's  table  the 
goodness  of  our  Sovereign  Lady  to  me,  her  af- 
fection to  my  mother,  who  waited  in  Privy  Cham- 
ber, her  bettering  of  my  father's  fortune  (which  I 
have,  alas,  so  much  worsted),  her  watchings  over 
my  youth,  her  liking  to  my  free  speech,  and  admi- 
ration of  my  little  learning  and  poesy,  which  I 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  277 

did  so  much  cultivate  on  her  command,  have  rooted 
such  love,  such  dutiful  remembrance  of  her  princely 
virtues,  that  to  turn  askant  from  her  condition, 
with  tearless  eyes,  would  foul  and  stain  the  spring 
and  fount  of  gratitude." 

He  goes  on  to  speak  of  the  last  time  he  saw  the 
Queen  "  in  most  pitiable  state."  She  asked  him  if 
he  had  seen  Tyrone.  Upon  his  answering  that  he 
had  seen  him  with  the  Lord  Deputy  (Essex)  she 
said  with  anger  and  grief,  "  '  Oh,  now  it  mindeth 
me  you  were  the  one  who  saw  this  man  elsewhere,' 
and  heareat  she  dropped  a  tear  and  smote  her 
bosom.  She  held  in  her  hand  a  golden  cup  which 
she  often  put  to  her  lips,  but,  in  sooth,  her  heart 
seemeth  too  full  to  lack  more  filling.  .  .  .  Her 
Majesty  inquired  of  some  matters  which  I  had 
written,  and,  as  she  was  pleased  to  note  my  fanciful 
brain,  I  was  not  unheedful  to  feed  her  humour  and 
read  some  verses,  whereat  she  smiled  once  and  was 
pleased  to  say  — *  When  thou  dost  feel  creeping 
time  at  thy  gate,  these  fooleries  will  please  thee 
less;  I  am  past  my  relish  for  such  matters;  thou 
seest  my  bodily  meat  doth  not  suit  me  well,  I  have 
eaten  but  one  ill-tasted  cake  since  yesternight.' 
She  rated  most  grievously  at  noon  at  some  one  who 
minded  not  to  bring  up  some  matters  of  account. 
Several  men  have  been  sent  to,  and,  when  ready  at 
hand,  Her  Highness  hath  dismissed  in  anger,  but 
who,  dearest  Moll,  shall  say  that  '  Your  Highness 
hath  forgotten.'  " 

Directly  after  this,  Harington,  in  strange  con- 


278  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

tradiction  to  the  sentiments  expressed  in  this  let- 
ter, sent  a  dark  lantern  as  a  New  Year's  gift  to 
King  James. 

That  Queen  Elizabeth's  mind  was  as  vigourous 
as  ever  is  attested  by  a  long  letter  she  wrote  to 
James,  dated  January  5,  1603.  Although  the 
handwriting  is  hardly  legible,  the  style  is  a  char- 
acteristic utterance  of  her  forcible,  independent 
will. 

In  January,  she  visited  the  Earl  of  Nottingham, 
the  Lord  Admiral.*  He  was  a  cousin  of  Anne 
Boleyn,  and  to  him  the  Queen  seemed  to  cling 
with  affection  and  trust. 

About  this  time,  Her  Majesty  moved  her  Court 
to  Richmond.  The  inclemency  of  the  weather  in- 
creased her  illness,  but,  regardless  of  this,  and  a 
severe  cold  she  had  contracted,  she  insisted  upon 
removing  to  her  Palace  of  Richmond  on  a  windy 
and  rainy  day.  On  that  day,  she  said  to  the  Lord 
Admiral,  who  came  to  receive  her  orders  concern- 
ing the  removal,  "  My  Throne  hath  been  the 
Throne  of  Kings,  neither  ought  any  other  than  he 
that  is  my  next  heir  to  succeed  me." 

Here  at  Richmond,  which  she  called  "  the  warm 
winter-box,  to  shelter  her  old  age,"  she  seemed  to 
benefit  by  the  change  of  air,  and  became  cured  of 
her  cold.  She  attended  prayers  even  more  assid- 
uously now  than  she  had  done  throughout  her  life. 

But  at  the  end  of  February,  Queen  Elizabeth 
began  to  sicken  again  and  her  melancholy  in- 
*  Formerly  Lord  Howard  of  Effingham. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  279 

creased.  The  Coronation  ring  by  which  she  had 
bound  herself  in  marriage  to  the  Realm,  and  which 
she  had  never  taken  off  since  that  day,  had  now 
grown  into  the  flesh,  and  she  gave  orders  to  have 
it  filed  off.  This  was  regarded  as  a  bad  omen 
by  many  of  the  courtiers. 

Before  this  time  there  were  hopes  entertained 
of  her  recovery,  according  to  the  reports  of  the 
French  Ambassador:  "  In  the  same  proportion  as 
Elizabeth  is  easily  irritated  she  is  also  easily  ap- 
peased, and  may  be  won  by  a  little.  She  appears 
to  be  naturally  extremely  polite  and  gracious  .  .  . 
she  is  not  only  beloved  but  adored.  Her 
strength,  it  is  true,  fails,  and  she  suffers  from 
pains  in  the  bladder;  yet  she  is  restored  to  health 
for  the  present.  A  Spanish  mathematician  has  cal- 
culated that  she  will  pass  her  75th  year.  Her  eye 
is  still  lively ;  she  has  good  spirits,  and  is  fond  of 
life,  for  which  reason  she  takes  good  care  of  her- 
self." On  March  13th,  1603,  he  writes:  "To 
my  request  for  an  audience,  the  Queen  answered 
that  I  must  excuse  her  for  a  few  days,  till  after 
the  mourning  for  the  death  of  the  Countess  of 
Nottingham,  for  whom  she  has1  shed  many  tears, 
and  manifested  great  affliction." 

Queen  Elizabeth  had  always  had  a  marked  aver- 
sion to  medicine  all  her  life,  and  the  approach  of 
death  by  no  means  abated  this  antipathy,  for  she 
persistently  refused  everything  prescribed  by  her 
physicians. 

She  would  not  go  to  bed,  but  lay  upon  the  floor, 


280  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

propped  up  by  cushions,  refusing  food  as  well  as 
medicine. 

Robert  Carey,  the  son  of  her  cousin,  Lord  Huns- 
don,  who  visited  the  Queen  in  her  last  sickness, 
writes,  "  When  I  came  to  Court,  I  found  the  Queen 
ill-disposed,  and  she  kept  her  inner  lodging;  yet 
hearing  of  my  arrival,  she  sent  for  me.  I  found 
her  in  one  of  her  withdrawing  chambers,  sitting 
low  upon  her  cushions.  She  called  me  to  her;  I 
kissed  her  hand  and  told  her  it  was  my  chiefest 
happiness  to  see  her  in  safety  and  in  health,  which 
I  wished  might  long  continue.  She  took  me  by 
the  hand,  and  wrung  it  hard,  and  said,  '  No,  Robin, 
I  am  not  well ; '  and  then  discoursed  to  me  of  her 
indisposition,  and  that  her  heart  had  been  sad  and 
heavy  for  ten  or  twelve  days,  and  in  her  discourse 
she  fetched  not  so  few  as  forty  or  fifty  great  sighs1. 
I  was  grieved  at  the  first  to  see  her  in  this  plight, 
for  in  all  my  life  time  before  I  never  saw  her  fetch 
a  sigh,  but  when  the  Queen  of  Scots  was  beheaded. 
...  I  used  the  best  words  I  could  to  persuade 
her  from  this  melancholy  humour,  but  I  found  it 
was  too  deep-rooted  in  her  heart,  and  hardly  to  be 
removed.  This  was  upon  a  Saturday  night,  and 
she  gave  command  that  the  great  closet  should  be 
prepared  for  her  to  go  to  Chapel  the  next  morning. 
The  next  day,  all  things  being  in  readiness,  we 
long  expected  her  coming. 

"  After  eleven  o'clock,  one  of  the  grooms  came 
out,  and  bade  make  ready  for  the  private  closet, 
for  she  would  not  go  to  the  great.  There  we 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  281 

stayed  long  for  her  coming;  but  at  the  last  she 
had  cushions  laid  for  her  in  the  Privy  Chamber, 
hard  by  the  closet  door,  and  there  she  heard  the 
service.  From  that  day  forward  she  grew  worse 
and  worse;  she  remained  upon  her  cushions  four 
days  and  nights  at  the  least.  All  about  her  could 
not  persuade  her  either  to  take  any  sustenance  or 
to  go  to  bed.  ...  I  could  not  but  think  in  what 
a  wretched  estate  I  should  be  left,  most  of 
my  livelihood  depending  on  her  life.  ...  I  did  as- 
sure myself  it  was1  neither  unjust  or  unhonest  for 
me  to  do  for  myself,  if  God  at  that  time  should  call 
her  to  His  mercy.  Hereupon  I  wrote  the  King  of 
Scots  .  .  .  and  certified  in  what  state  Her  Majesty 
was.  I  desired  him  not  to  stir  from  Edinburgh; 
if  of  that  sickness  she  should  die  I  would  be  the 
first  man  that  should  bring  him  news  of  it." 

On  March  19th,  de  Beaumont,  the  French  Am- 
bassador, writes  his  master  that  "  Queen  Elizabeth 
had  been  very  much  indisposed  for  the  last  four- 
teen days,  having  scarcely  slept  at  all  during  that 
period,  and  eaten  much  less  than  usual,  being 
seized  with  such  a  restlessness  that,  though  she 
had  no  decided  fever,  she  felt  a  great  heat  in  her 
stomach  and  a  continual  thirst,  which  obliged  her 
every  moment  to  take  something  to  abate  it,  and 
to  prevent  the  phlegm  with  which  she  was  some- 
times oppressed  from  choking  her." 

Three  days  later,  de  Beaumont  writes  that 
"  the  Queen  of  England  had  been  somewhat  better 
the  day  before,  but  was  that  day  worse,  and  so  full 


282  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

of  chagrin  and  so  weary  of  life  that  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  entreaties  of  her  Councillors  and  phy- 
sicians1 for  her  to  take  the  proper  medicine  and 
means  necessary  for  her  relief,  she  refused  every- 
thing." 

The  only  relatives  about  Queen  Elizabeth  in 
these  dark  hours  were  Lady  Scrope  and  her  brother, 
Robert  Carey,  watching  intently  to  be  the  first 
to  hail  James  as  King.  Her  death  was  already 
reported  in  England  and  on  the  Continent. 

"  The  Queen  grew  worse  and  worse,"  writes 
Carey,  "because  she  would  be  so  —  none  about 
her  being  able  to  persuade  her  to  go  to  bed." 

On  Wednesday  Lord  Admiral  Nottingham,  who 
was  mourning  his  wife's  recent  death,  was  sent 
for  as  the  person  who  had  most  influence  with  the 
Queen;  he  was  not  only  her  nearest  relative,  but 
had  been  a  faithful  friend  throughout  her  life.  He 
came  and  knelt  down  beside  her,  as  she  lay  upon 
the  cushions',  tenderly  kissed  her  hands,  and,  with 
the  tears  coursing  down  his  cheeks,  implored  her 
to  take  a  little  food.  Finally,  after  many  en- 
treaties, he  induced  her  to  take  a  little  broth, 
which  he,  still  kneeling  by  her  side,  fed  to  her  with 
a  spoon.  But  she  long  resisted  his  urgent  plead- 
ings for  her  to  go  to  bed,  saying,  "  If  he  were  in 
the  habit  of  seeing  such  things  in  his1  bed,  as  she 
did  when  in  hers,  he  would  not  persuade  her  as  he 
did."  And  Secretary  Cecil,  overhearing  her, 
asked  if  Her  Majesty  had  seen  any  spirits;  to 
which  she  said  she  scorned  to  answer  him  so  idle 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  283 

a  question.  Then  he  told  her  how,  to  content  the 
people,  Her  Majesty  must  go  to  bed.  To  which 
she  smiled,  wonderfully  contemning  him,  saying 
that  the  word  must  was  not  to  be  used  to  Princes ; 
and  thereupon  said,  "  Little  man,  little  man,  if 
your  father  lived,  ye  (he  seems  more  probable) 
durst  not  have  said  so  much;  but  thou  knowest 
I  must  die,  and  that  maketh  thee  so  presumptu- 
ous." 

She  then  commanded  the  presuming  Cecil  and 
all  but  the  Lord  Admiral  to  leave  the  room.  She 
said  in  a  faint  voice  to  her  faithful  kinsman,  when 
all  the  rest  had  gone,  "  My  Lord,  I  am  tied  with  a 
chain  of  iron  about  my  neck."  When  he  reminded 
her  of  her  accustomed  fortitude,  she  replied  sadly, 
"  I  am  tied,  I  am  tied,  and  the  case  is  altered  with 
me."  At  last,  partly  by  entreaty,  and  partly  by 
force,  he  got  her  to  bed. 

That  the  Queen's  forcible  mind  remained  un- 
clouded to  the  very  end  is  vouched  for  by  many, 
and  most,  of  the  eye-witnesses  of  the  final  scene 
in  that  long  and  eventful  life,  although  Secretary 
Cecil,  to  suit  some  purpose  of  his  own,  caused  some 
reports  of  the  opposite  nature  to  be  circulated. 
Says  Lady  Southwell,  one  of  her  maids  of  honour, 
"  Though  many  reports,  by  Cecil's  means,  were 
spread  of  her  distraction,  neither  myself  nor  any 
other  lady  about  her  could  even  perceive  that  her 
speeches,  ever  well  applied,  proceeded  from  a  dis- 
tracted mind." 

De  Beaumont's  next  report  of  the  state  of  the 


284  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

dying  Monarch  runs :  "  This  morning  the  Queen's 
music  has  gone  to  her.  I  believe  she  means  to  die 
as  gaily  as  she  lived."  In  a  later  report,  he  says, 
"  The  Queen  hastens  to  her  end,  and  is  given  up  by 
all  her  physicians.  They  have  put  her  to  bed 
almost  by  force,  after  she  had  sat  upon  cushions 
for  ten  days,  and  has  rested  barely  an  hour  each 
day  in  her  clothes." 

After  she  was  undressed  and  placed  in  a  more 
comfortable  position  she  revived  and  asked  for 
broth.  There  were  now  some  hopes  entertained 
of  her  recovery,  but  soon  after  this  she  became 
unable  to  speak. 

De  Beaumont  in  his  last  report  writes :  "  The 
Queen  was  given  up  three  days  ago;  she  had  lain 
long  in  a  cold  sweat  and  had  not  spoken.  A  short 
time  previously  she  said,  fi  I  wish  not  to  live  any 
longer  but  desire  to  die.'  Yesterday  and  the  day 
before  she  began  to  rest,  and  found  herself  better, 
after  having  been  greatly  relieved  by  the  burst- 
ing of  a  small  swelling  in  the  throat.  She  takes 
no  medicine  whatever  and  has  only  kept  her  bed 
two  days;  before  this  she  would  on  no  account 
suffer  it,  for  fear  (as  some  suppose)  of  a  prophecy 
that  she  should  die  in  her  bed.  She  is,  moreover, 
said  to  be  no  longer  in  her  right  senses ;  this,  how- 
ever, is  a  mistake;  she  has  only  had  some  slight 
wanderings  at  intervals." 

Carey  says  she  grew  rapidly  worse  on  Wednes- 
day, March  23rd.  "  That  afternoon,"  he  writes, 
"  she  made  signs  for  her  Council  to  be  called,  and 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  285 

by  putting  her  hand  to  her  head  when  the  King 
of  Scotland  was  named  to  succeed  her,  they  all 
knew  he  was  the  man  she  desired  should  reign 
after  her." 

An  article  in  the  Cottonian  MSS.  confirms 
Carey's  statement.  The  Councillors  asked  her  to 
make  a  sign  at  the  name  of  him  whom  she  wished 
to  succeed  her.  When  James5  name  was  men- 
tioned, "  suddenly  heaving  herself  upwards  in  her 
bed,  and  pulling  her  arms  out  of  bed,  she  held 
both  her  hands  jointly  together  over  her  head  in 
the  manner  of  a  crown." 

Another  account  states  that  when  the  Privy 
Council  asked  her  to  name  her  successor,  she  re- 
covered her  power  of  speech  sufficiently  to  an- 
swer with  gasping  breath,  "  I  said  that  my  throne 
was  a  throne  of  Kings  and  that  I  would  not  have 
any  mean  person  succeed  me."  *  Secretary  Cecil 
asked  her  meaning,  to  which  she  replied,  "  I  will 
that  a  king  succeed  me  and  who  should  that  be 
but  my  nearest  kinsman,  the  King  of  Scots." 
Then  the  Archbishop  told  her  to  fix  her  thoughts 
on  God,  "  That  I  do,"  she  answered,  "  neither  doth 
my  mind  at  all  wander  from  him."  And  when  she 
could  no  longer  pray  with  her  tongue,  with  her 
hands  and  eyes  lifted  up,  she  directed  the  thoughts 
of  her  pious  heart  to  God. 

Lady  Southwell,  whose  account  differs  in  many 
important  points  from  those  of  others,  writes: 
"  The  Queen  now  being  given  over  by  all,  and  at 

*  Camden. 


286  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

the  last  gasp,  keeping  still  her  sense  in  everything 
and  giving  ever  when  she  spoke  apt  answers, 
though  she  spake  very  seldom,  having  then  a  sore 
throat,  she  desired  to  wash  it,  that  she  might  an- 
swer more  freely  to  what  the  Council  demanded ; 
which  was  to  know  whom  she  would  have  for  King ; 
but  they,  seeing  her  throat  troubled  her  so  much, 
desired  her  to  hold  up  her  finger  when  they 
named  whom  liked  her.  Whereupon  they  named 
the  King  of  France,  the  King  of  Scotland,  at 
which  she  never  stirred.  They  named  my  Lord 
Beauchamp,  whereto  she  said,  '  I  will  have  no 
rascal's'  (commoner)  son  in  my  seat,  but  one 
worthy  to  be  a  King.'  *  Hereupon  instantly  she 
died."  This  report  was  dated  in  the  afternoon 
of  March  £3d,  but  it  is  certain  that  she  lived  un- 
til the  early  hours  of  the  next  day. 

"  About  six  at  night  (March  23),"  writes  Carey, 
"  she  made  signs  for  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury and  her  Chaplains  to  come  to  her.  At  which 
time  I  went  in  with  them,  and  sat  upon  my  knees, 
full  of  tears  to  see  that  heavy  sight.  Her  Maj- 
esty lay  upon  her  back,  with  one  hand  in  the  bed, 
and  the  other  without.  The  Bishop  kneeled  down 
by  her  and  examined  her  first  of  her  faith ;  and 
she  so  punctually  answered  all  his  several  ques- 
tions by  lifting  up  her  eyes  and  holding  up  her 
hand,  as  it  was  a  comfort  to  all  the  beholders. 
Then  the  good  man  told  her  plainly  what  she  was 

*  This  referred  to  the  claims  of  Lord  Beauchamp,  son  of 
Catherine,  sister  to  Lady  Jane  Grey. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  287 

and  what  she  was  to  come  to,  and  though  she  had 
been  long  a  great  Queen  here  upon  earth;  yet 
shortly  she  was  to  yield  an  account  of  her  steward- 
ship to  the  great  King  of  Kings.  After  this  he 
began  to  pray,  and  all  that  were  by  did  answer 
him.  After  he  had  continued  long  in  prayer,  the 
old  man's  knees  were  weary;  he  blessed  her  and 
meant  to  rise  and  leave  her.  The  Queen  made  a 
sign  with  her  hand.  My  sister  Scrope,  knowing 
her  meaning,  told  the  Bishop  the  Queen  desired 
he  would  pray  still.  He  did  so  for  a  long  half 
hour  and  then  thought  to  leave  her."  But  Queen 
Elizabeth,  speechless  and  suffering,  made  a  second 
sign  for  him  to  continue  his  prayer.  "  This  he 
did  for  half  an  hour  more  with  earnest  cries  to 
God  for  her  soul's  health,  which  he  uttered  with 
that  fervency  of  spirit  that  the  Queen,  to  all  our 
sight,  much  rejoiced  thereat  and  gave  testimony 
to  us  all  of  her  Christian  and  comfortable  end. 
By  this  time  it  grew  late,  and  every  one  departed, 
all  but  the  women  who  attended  her." 

This  account  of  Her  Majesty's  last  hours  is  cor- 
roborated by  a  MS.  in  the  Cottonian  library. 
"  She  had  several  of  her  learned  and  pious  Bishops 
frequently  about  her  performing  the  last  offices  of 
religion  with  her,  as  particularly  Watson,  Bishop 
of  Chichester,  her  Almoner,  the  Bishop  of  London, 
and  chiefly  Archbishop  Whitgift,  with  whom  in 
their  prayers  she  very  devoutly  with  her  eyes, 
hands,  and  tongue  and  with  very  great  fervency, 
joined.  She  cared  not  to  havp  any  other  discourse 


288  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

but  with  them  about  her  spiritual  estate,  and 
though  she  was  impatient  of  any  speeches  of  others 
with  her,  yet  she  was  ever  well  pleased  to  hear  the 
Archbishop  and  the  Bishop  of  London  give  her 
comfort  and  counsel  to  prepare  herself  Godward; 
and  most  heartily  and  devoutly  prayed  con- 
tinually with  them,  making  signs  and  shows  to 
her  last  remembrance  of  the  sweet  comfort  she 
took  in  their  presence  and  assistance,  and  the  un- 
speakable joy  she  was  going  into." 

After  the  Archbishop  had  departed,  the  dying 
Queen,  her  little  remaining  strength  exhausted  by 
her  devotions,  sank  into  a  deep,  lethargic  sleep 
from  which  she  never  awoke.  So  quietly  and 
peacefully  did  the  soul  of  great  Elizabeth  pass 
to  that  unknown  world,  that  not  one  of  those 
about  her  knew  the  moment  of  dissolution.  About 
three  in  the  morning,  Thursday,  March  24,  it  was 
discovered  that  she  no  longer  breathed.  Then 
swiftly  and  silently  that  vigilant  spy,  Lady 
Scrope,  stole  to  one  of  the  windows  of  the  death 
chamber,  and  dropped  a  sapphire  ring  into  the 
hands  of  her  brother,  Robert  Carey,  who  was1 
lurking  about  in  the  court-yard.  This  ring, 
known  as  the  "  blue  ring,"  had  been  entrusted  by 
the  King  of  Scots  to  Lady  Scrope  as  a  certain 
token  to  announce  to  him  the  death  of  his  Royal 
kinswoman.  As  Carey  caught  the  gleaming 
circlet  in  his  eager  fingers,  he  knew  that  Eliza- 
beth, the  illustrious  and  mighty  Queen,  was  dead 
and  that  James  of  Scotland  ruled  over  England. 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  289 

Leaping  upon  his  horse,  he  rode  at  breakneck 
speed  to  announce  the  tidings  to  the  expectant 
heir. 

Carey,  however,  in  his  memoirs,  gives  a  very 
different  account  of  his  proceedings  on  that  gloomy 
March  night.  He  states  that  after  he  left  the 
Royal  apartments,  he  returned  to  his  lodgings, 
after  leaving  word  in  the  Cofferer's  chamber  to 
summon  him  instantly  when  the  Queen  was  actually 
dying.  He  gave  an  angel  to  the  porter  to  admit 
him  when  he  desired.  Early  Thursday  morning, 
he  was  informed  that  Queen  Elizabeth  was  dead. 
"  I  rose,"  he  writes,  "  and  made  all  the  haste  to  the 
gate  to  get  in.  I  was  answered  I  could  not  enter 
—  all  the  Lords  of  the  Council  having  been  there 
and  commanded  that  none  should  go  in  or  out  but 
by  warrant  from  them.  At  the  very  instant  one  of 
the  Council,  the  Comptroller,  asked  if  I  were  at 
the  gate.  I  answered  '  Yes,'  and  desired  to  know 
how  the  Queen  did ;  he  answered,  '  Pretty  well.' 
I  came  up  to  the  Cofferer's  chamber  where  I  found 
all  the  ladies  weeping  bitterly " —  a  pathetic 
tribute  to  the  dead  Majesty  of  England. 

It  is  possible  to  reconcile  these  two  contradic- 
tory accounts  of  Carey's  actions,  by  assuming 
that  he  did  not  remain  long  in  his  lodgings,  but 
took  up  his  stand  under  the  Queen's  window,  and 
when  the  sapphire  ring  assured  him  that  the  lamp 
of  life  was  extinguished  in  the  room  above,  he 
then  made  the  inquiries1  related  in  his  memoirs,  to 
render  himself  doubly  sure  that  the  Queen  was 


£90  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

really  dead  before  he  set  out  in  frantic  haste  to 
hail  her  successor. 

Queen  Elizabeth  died  in  the  seventieth  year  of 
her  age,  having  reigned  forty-four  years  and  four 
months.  Her  successor  said  of  her,  "  In  wisdom 
and  felicity  of  government  she  surpassed  all  Princes 
since  the  days  of  Augustus." 

In  a  Latin  letter  written  after  the  day  of  her 
death,  the  author,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been 
one  of  her  physicians,  says :  "  It  was  after  labour- 
ing for  nearly  three  weeks  under  a  morbid  melan- 
choly which  brought  on  stupor,  not  unmixed  with 
some  indication  of  a  disordered  fancy,  that  the 
Queen  expired.  During  all  this  time,  she  could 
neither  by  reasoning,  entreaties,  or  artifices  be 
brought  to  make  trial  of  any  medical  aid,  and  with 
difficulty  was  persuaded  to  receive  sufficient  nour- 
ishment to  sustain  nature,  taking  also  very  little 
sleep,  and  that  not  in  bed,  but  on  cushions,  where 
she  would  sit  whole  days,  motionless  and  sleepless, 
retaining,  however,  the  vigour  of  her  intellect  to 
the  last  breath,  though  deprived  for  three  days  be- 
fore her  death  of  the  power  of  speech." 

Another  contemporary  writes :  "  No  doubt  you 
shall  have  heard  Her  Majesty's  sickness  and  man- 
ner of  death  diversely  reported,  for  everywhere 
Papists  do  tell  strange  stories  as  utterly  void  of 
truth  as  of  all  civil  honesty  or  humanity.  .  .  . 
Here  was  some  whispering  that  her  brain  was  some- 
what distempered,  but  there  was  no  such  matter, 
only  she  held  an  obstinate  silence  for  the  most  part ; 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  291 

and  because  she  had  a  persuasion  that  if  she  once 
lay  down,  she  should  never  rise,  she  could  not  be 
got  to  go  to  bed  in  a  whole  week  till  three  days 
before  her  death.  .  .  .  She  made  no  will,  neither 
gave  anything  away ;  so  that  they  which  come  after 
shall  find  a  well-furnished  jewel-house  and  rich 
wardrobe  of  more  than  two  thousand  gowns,  with 
all  else  answerable." 

The  date  for  Queen  Elizabeth's  impressive  ob- 
sequies was  set  for  April  28th.  About  this  time, 
a  Mr.  Simon  Thelwal  writes  to  a  friend  of  his : 
"  There  is  very  great  preparations  made  and 
making  for  the  Queen's  Majesty's  funeral,  which  is 
appointed  to  be  performed  on  Thursday  in  Easter 
week  next;  and  very  shortly  after,  the  King's 
Majesty  will  come  to  London." 

"  April  28th,  being  her  funeral  day,  at  .which 
time  the  City  of  Westminster  was  surcharged  with 
multitudes  of  all  sorts  of  people  in  their  streets, 
houses,  windows,  leads,  and  gutters  that  came  to 
see  the  obsequy,  and  when  they  beheld  her  statue 
or  picture  lying  upon  the  coffin  set  forth  in  her 
royal  robes,  having  a  crown  upon  her  head  thereof, 
and  a  ball  and  sceptre  in  either  hand,  there  was 
such  a  general  sighing,  groaning,  and  weeping  as 
the  like  hath  not  been  seen  or  known  in  the  memory 
of  man;  neither  doth  any  history  mention  any 
people,  time  or  state,  to  make  like  lamentation 
for  the  death  of  their  Sovereign."  * 

The  Knight-marshals  led  the  long  and  imposing 
*Stow's  Annals. 


292  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

procession  which  accompanied  the  body  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  from  Whitehall  to  the  Cathedral  Church 
of  Westminster.  Following  the  Knight-marshals 
came  in  order:  fifteen  poor  men  and  two  hundred 
and  sixty  poor  women,  marching  four  by  four, 
servants  of  the  Knights,  trumpeters,  two  sergeants- 
at-arms,  the  standard  of  the  Dragon,  two  equer- 
ries, leading  a  horse  trapped  with  black  velvet, 
Royal  messengers,  children  of  the  Royal  household, 
grooms,  four  heralds,  yeomen,  servants  of  Earls 
and  Countesses,  four  heralds,  sergeants-at-arms, 
the  standard  of  the  Lion,  two  equerries  leading  an- 
other horse  trapped  in  sombre  black,  gentlemen  of 
the  Royal  Chapel  in  their  sacerdotal  cloaks,  and 
with  them  the  children  of  the  Chapel,  clad  in  their 
white  surplices,  and  singing;  after  them  clerks, 
more  sergeants,  musicians,  apothecaries1,  surgeons, 
porters,  gentlemen-ushers,  the  Rouge  Dragon, 
clerks  of  the  Privy  Seal,  Council,  Signet,  and  Par- 
liament, Doctors,  the  Queen's  Chaplains,  Latin 
and  French  Secretaries,  the  Rouge  Cross,  chief  offi- 
cers of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Attorneys,  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice,  ex-Ambassadors,  gentlemen  of  the 
Privy  Chamber,  Gentlemen  Pensioners,  carrying 
pole-axes  with  the  heads  downward  and  covered 
with  black,  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  Sir  Robert 
Cecil,  the  Controller  and  Treasurer  of  the  Royal 
household,  Barons,  Bishops,  Earls'  eldest  sons,  Vis- 
counts, Dukes'  second  sons,  Earls,  Marquises,  the 
Bishop  of  Chichester,  who  was  the  Almoner  and 
preacher  at  the  funeral,  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  293 

bury,  the  French  Ambassador,  four  sergeants-at- 
arms,  the  great  embroidered  banner  of  England, 
borne  by  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  assisted  by  Lord 
Howard  of  Effingham,  the  Norrey  King-at-Arms, 
and  the  Clarenciaux  King-at-Arms;  this  was  Wil- 
liam Camden,  the  historian.  After  him  came  the 
lofty  bier,  bearing  all  that  was  mortal  of  Eng- 
land's Maiden  Monarch.  Upon  the  open  funeral 
chariot,  drawn  by  four  horses,  caparisoned  in  black 
velvet,  rested  the  leaden  cased  coffin  covered  with 
a  rich  pall  of  purple  velvet.  On  the  coffin  was 
the  life-like  effigy  of  Her  Majesty's  whole  body, 
attired  in  her  parliamentary  robes,  with  the  crown 
on  her  head  and  the  sceptre  in  her  hand.  Six 
Knights  supported  a  canopy  over  the  bier,  and  on 
either  side  of  the  funeral  car  walked  twelve  Nobles, 
carrying  bannerols,  behind  them  came  numerous 
footmen,  and  next  the  Earl  of  Worcester,  the 
Master  of  the  Horse,  leading  the  palfrey  of  honour, 
trapped  with  sombre  velvet,  two  esquires  and  a 
groom  "  to  attend  and  lead  him  away  "  followed 
after,  and  then  the  gentlemen-ushers  of  the  Privy 
Chamber,  the  Garter  Knight-at-Arms  and  the 
Marchioness  of  Northampton,  who  was  the  chief 
mourner.  ,  She  was  assisted  by  the  Lord  Treasurer 
and  the  Lord  Admiral,  and  her  train  was  carried 
by  two  Countesses.  She  was  followed  by  two 
Earls,  fourteen  Countesses,  the  ladies  of  honour, 
Viscountesses,  Earls'  daughters,  Baronesses  and 
the  maids  of  honour  of  the  Privy  Chamber.  The 
Captain  of  the  Guard,  with  his  men  marching  five 


294  QUEEN  ELIZABETH 

by  five,  and  carrying  their  halberds  downward, 
concluded  the  solemn  funeral  cortege. 

The  body  of  Queen  Elizabeth  was'  interred  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  where  James,  her  successor, 
erected  a  stately  monument  to  her  glorious  memory. 
Her  statue  lies  upon  a  slab  of  white  marble,  sup- 
ported by  four  lions,  while  above  her  rises  a  lofty 
canopy.  Her  head  reposes  upon  cushions,  heavily 
embroidered  and  tasseled,  and  her  feet  rest  upon  a 
recumbent  lion.  She  wears  no  crown,  but  her 
tightly  curled  hair  is  covered  by  a  royal  cap,  the 
sceptre  which  she  holds  in  one  hand  has  been  broken 
off,  and  so  has  the  cross  rising  from  the  globe 
which  she  holds'  in  the  other.  She  is  attired  in 
her  robes  of  State,  lined  with  ermine,  and  wears  the 
wide  ruff  and  farthingale. 

On  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  proclamation  of 
James,  Bishop  Hall  at  Paul's  Cross  delivered  an 
eloquent  apostrophe  to  the  memory  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth: 

"  Q  blessed  Queen !  Mother  jrf_J:his  nation, 
nurse  of  this  chu£cji,glorv_of  womanhoocL  envy 
and  example  of  foreign  nations,  wotnjjer  of  times, 
how  sweet  and  sacred  shall  thy  memory  be_to_all 
posterity.  How  excellent  wjre__her  masculine^ 
graces  of  learning,  valour,  wisdom,  by  which^she 
y  challenge_toj3e  Queen  of  menj_.  .  . 
y^should  I  speak  of  Tier  long^  and  successful 
government,  of  her  miraculous  preservations,  of 
her  famous  victories,  of  her  excellent  laws  and  her 
careful  execution  of  them?  Many  daughters  have 


QUEEN  ELIZABETH  295 

jjone_jvorthily,  butthou  surmounte^JL-JJiem— aJL 
Such  was  the  sweetness  of  her  government  and 
such  fear  of  misery  in  her  loss,  that  many  worthy 
Christians  desired  their  eyes  might  be  closed  be- 
fore hers.  .  .  .  Every  one  pointed  to  her  white 
hairs  and  said  with  peaceable  Leontius,  '  When 
this  snow  melteth,  there  will  be  a  flood.'  " 

At  her  death,  the  poets  and  poetasters  of  the 
Realm  vied  with  each  other  to  express  in  elaborate 
verses  the  nation's  grief.  An  extremely  long 
panegyric  composed  by  Lady  Diana  Primrose  was 
entitled  "A  Chain  of  Pearls."  Each  pearl  or 
stanza,  was  an  eulogy  on  some  virtue  in  the  Sov- 
ereign. There  were  ten  pearls  in  all  in  praise  of 
Her  Majesty's  religion,  chastity,  temperance,  clem- 
ency, justice,  fortitude,  science,  patience,  and 
bounty.  The  string  of  pearls  ends1  with  the  lines : 

"  Here  all  amazed  my  muse  sets  up  her  rest, 
Adoring  her  who's  so  divinely  blest." 

Many  of  these  verses  were  hung  up  in  numerous 
churches  throughout  the  Kingdom.  Conspicuous 
among  them  was  "  Britain's  Lachrimae."  * 

"  Weep,  little  Isle,  and  for  thy  mistress*  death, 
Swim  in  a  double  sea  of  brockish  waters; 
Weep,  little  world,  weep  for  great  Elizabeth, 
Daughter  of  war,  for  Mars  himself  begat  her, 
Mother  of  peace,  for  she  bore  the  latter, 
She  was  and  is,  what  can  there  more  be  said? 
On  Earth  the  first,  in  Heaven  the  second  Maid." 
*  "  Nichol's  Progresses." 


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